"How long does it take to become a mental health technician in Iowa?"

"Most paths into the mental health technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for mental health technicians in Iowa?"

"In Iowa, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Iowa Office of Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Mental Health Technician in Iowa

Q: "How much do mental health technicians earn in Iowa?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), mental health technicians in Iowa earned a median annual wage of approximately $42,910. Employment concentration in Iowa is roughly 0.44 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for mental health technicians in Iowa?"

"Iowa currently employs approximately 690 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 20.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Iowa psychiatric technicians earn a median annual wage of $42,910 ($20.63/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 690 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -4.9% below the national median of $45,130 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $42,910 ($20.63/hr)
25th percentile: $37,440 per year
75th percentile: $44,630 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $46,310 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,370 per year
Workers employed in Iowa: 690
Versus national median: -4.9% below the U.S. median of $45,130
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.44 - this occupation is less concentrated in Iowa than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Iowa employs approximately 690 mental health technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $42,910 ¹. Nationally, mental health technician employment is projected to grow 20.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 15,900 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a mental health technician in Iowa, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Mental Health Technician in Iowa

How do I become a mental health technician in Iowa? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for mental health technicians in Iowa.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do mental health technicians earn in Iowa? The median annual wage for mental health technicians in Iowa is $42,910 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,370 and experienced professionals can earn $46,310 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Iowa): $42,910 per year ¹

Mental Health Technician Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

Psychiatric Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), psychiatric technicians wages in Iowa vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	720	$48,310	$49,500	$39,490	$60,060
Des Moines-West Des Moines	300	$39,750	$41,000	$35,760	$46,310
Iowa City	60	$45,210	$44,830	$42,320	$46,920

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Mental health technicians in Iowa

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest mental health technician employment within Iowa according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Des Moines-West Des Moines	300	$39,750
Iowa City	60	$45,210

Explore More Trades in Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for mental health technicians in Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 690 mental health technicians ¹. Nationally, mental health technician employment is projected to grow 20.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Iowa? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Iowa.

How much do mental health technicians earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for mental health technicians in Iowa is $42,910, which is $320 above the national median of $42,590 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)