Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Psychiatric Technician Salary in Houston, TX

Psychiatric Technicians in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $43,320 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,988 take-home, or $3,082 a month.

Median salary
$43,320
$20.83 per hour
Typical range
$35,600 – $49,870
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Houston, TX
3,300
0.99× national concentration
▲8.5%
Pay trend: The median for psychiatric technicians in Houston, TX rose from $39,930 (May 2024) to $43,320 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 6.1%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median psychiatric technician salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Psychiatric Technician in Houston, TX
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$36,988
per year · effective tax rate 14.6%
$3,082Monthly
$1,541Twice a month
$1,423Every 2 weeks
$17.78Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,018
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,686
  • Medicare (1.45%)$628
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$36,988

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Psychiatric Technician pay by experience in Houston, TX

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$35,600$17.12$30,785$2,565
25th percentile$38,150$18.34$32,834$2,736
Median (50th)$43,320$20.83$36,988$3,082
75th percentile$45,560$21.90$38,787$3,232
90th percentile (top earners)$49,870$23.98$42,251$3,521

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $43,320 buys in Houston, TX

Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median psychiatric technician's $36,988 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,502 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,316
43% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,558
51% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,766
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Psychiatric Technician jobs are about as common in Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).

Best-paying cities for psychiatric technicians, adjusted for cost of living

Houston, TX ranks #5 of 11 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Boston, MA $57,610$45,809$42,312
2New York, NY $58,610$46,705$41,492
3Atlanta, GA $47,650$38,617$38,594
4Indianapolis, IN $44,710$36,815$38,471
5Houston, TX $43,320$36,988$37,502
6Philadelphia, PA $46,920$38,440$37,482
7Phoenix, AZ $46,550$38,628$37,388
8Chicago, IL $46,060$37,054$35,768

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 11 metros →

About the job: psychiatric technicians

Care for individuals with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities, following the instructions of physicians or other health practitioners. Monitor patients’ physical and emotional well-being and report to medical staff. May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral or injectable medications.

Typical education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Work experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
+22.3% (much faster than average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Psychiatric Technician salaries elsewhere in Texas

Frequently asked questions

How much does a psychiatric technician make in Houston, TX?

The median psychiatric technician salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $43,320 a year, or about $20.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,150 and $45,560.

What is a psychiatric technician’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?

On the median $43,320 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $36,988 a year ($3,082 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.

Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a psychiatric technician?

Pay here is 4% below the national median of $45,130. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,502 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #5 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a psychiatric technician afford rent in Houston, TX?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median psychiatric technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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Cost of living & all salaries in Houston, TX →