Psychiatric Technician Salary in Washington, DC
Psychiatric Technicians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $50,840 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,146 take-home, or $3,429 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median psychiatric technician salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,921
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,152
- Medicare (1.45%)$737
- District of Columbia income tax$1,884
- Take-home pay$41,146
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Psychiatric Technician pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,440 | $20.40 | $34,900 | $2,908 |
| 25th percentile | $47,750 | $22.96 | $38,848 | $3,237 |
| Median (50th) | $50,840 | $24.44 | $41,146 | $3,429 |
| 75th percentile | $60,190 | $28.94 | $48,077 | $4,006 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,000 | $37.02 | $59,423 | $4,952 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,840 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median psychiatric technician's $41,146 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,788 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Psychiatric Technician jobs are less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.46), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for psychiatric technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #27 of 63 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ann Arbor, MI | $72,550 | $57,036 | $56,539 |
| 2 | Madison, WI | $64,380 | $51,858 | $53,304 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $48,310 | $39,679 | $43,171 |
| 4 | Springfield, MO | $45,840 | $37,795 | $42,666 |
| 5 | Fresno, CA | $53,680 | $43,344 | $42,428 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $57,610 | $45,809 | $42,312 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $58,610 | $46,705 | $41,492 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $47,970 | $39,407 | $41,442 |
| 27 | Washington, DC | $50,840 | $41,146 | $37,788 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 63 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a psychiatric technician make in Washington, DC?
The median psychiatric technician salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $50,840 a year, or about $24.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,750 and $60,190.
What is a psychiatric technician’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $50,840 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $41,146 a year ($3,429 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,884 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a psychiatric technician?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $45,130. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,788 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #27 of 63 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a psychiatric technician afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median psychiatric technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
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- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $225,140
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $223,250
- Nurse Anesthetist — $223,150
- Physicians, All Other — $208,710
- Dentists, General — $184,540
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- Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other — $166,230
- Optometrist — $154,690
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- Pharmacist — $150,540