Psychiatric Technicians

Psychiatric Technicians score 12 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #726 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 16 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 0 on its own and 4 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 3 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

12/ 100

Low

Rank: #726of 923 jobs
US workers: 156,960BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $45,130a year
In real AI use: 3 of 16tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 0 (0%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 4 (25%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 12 (75%)

Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Develop or teach strategies to promote client wellness and independence.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Issue medications from dispensary and maintain records in accordance with specified procedures.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Interview new patients to complete admission forms, to assess their mental health status, or to obtain their mental health and treatment history.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Take and record measures of patients' physical condition, using devices such as thermometers or blood pressure gauges.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or mentally retarded patients.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Observe and influence patients' behavior, communicating and interacting with them and teaching, counseling, or befriending them.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Collaborate with or assist doctors, psychologists, or rehabilitation therapists in working with mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or developmentally disabled patients to treat, rehabilitate, and return patients to the community.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Encourage patients to develop work skills and to participate in social, recreational, or other therapeutic activities that enhance interpersonal skills or develop social relationships.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Restrain violent, potentially violent, or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Train or instruct new employees on procedures to follow with psychiatric patients.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Administer oral medications or hypodermic injections, following physician's prescriptions and hospital procedures.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Aid patients in performing tasks, such as bathing or keeping beds, clothing, or living areas clean.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Lead prescribed individual or group therapy sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Escort patients to medical appointments.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Contact patients' relatives to arrange family conferences.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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This job is already among the least exposed in its field.

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Questions about psychiatric technicians and AI

Will AI replace psychiatric technicians?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Psychiatric Technicians score 12 out of 100 (low exposure), #726 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 4 of the job's 16 tasks, 0 of them on its own, while 12 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which psychiatric technicians tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff"; "Develop or teach strategies to promote client wellness and independence"; "Issue medications from dispensary and maintain records in accordance with specified procedures".

Which psychiatric technicians tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Take and record measures of patients' physical condition, using devices such as thermometers or blood pressure gauges"; "Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or mentally retarded patients"; "Observe and influence patients' behavior, communicating and interacting with them and teaching, counseling, or befriending them".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 3 of the 16 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as psychiatric technicians, and what do they earn?

About 156,960 people in the US, with median pay of $45,130 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.