Cape Fear Valley Health logo
Cape Fear Valley Health
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Behavioral Health Technician- Psychiatric Emergency Department, Full Time Nights

Behavioral Health TechFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Facility

Cape Fear Valley Medical Center

Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Department: Psychiatric Emergency Department

Job Family

Professional

Work Shift

Nights (United States of America)

Summary

Performs routine patient care duties to include observation, monitoring and recording changes in patient’s condition, obtaining vital signs, assisting with activities of daily living, providing emotional support and care under the direction of a nurse, and facilitates groups Assists with performing contraband searches; inventory of patient’s personal belongings.

Effectively utilizes crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques as needed. Assists with maintaining a safe, clean, and therapeutic environment. Serves as resource for medical staff, nursing staff, security, and other Behavioral Health Technicians.

Major Job Functions

The following is a summary of the major essential functions of this job. The incumbent may perform other duties, both major and minor, that are not mentioned below. In addition, specific functions may change from time to time:

Provides care to the patients in a manner that promotes safety, protects patient rights, preserves patient dignity, provides comfort and is conducive to a positive therapeutic environment

Assists with new admissions including, but not limited to, conducting contraband searches, orientating patient to room and environment, obtaining vital signs and securing patient belongings in designated area

Assists with transfers and discharges to include, but not limited to, obtaining vital signs and gathering patient belongings

  • Obtaining and monitoring vital signs, obtain patient weight and report abnormalities to nurse
  • Assists patients with activities of daily living, (personal hygiene, and toileting if necessary)
  • Assists with therapeutic holds, restraints, and seclusion procedures after completing NCI Training
  • Assess patients through play and group activities, report abnormal findings to nurse
  • Assists with Q-15-minute rounding and video, visual constant and touch constant observation, monitoring and documentation as directed by nurse
  • Assists with documentation of intake and output and graphing of vital signs as directed
  • Facilitates Therapeutic Community Meeting and Wrap-up as assigned
  • Participates in educational and performance improvement initiatives
  • Actively participates in cost containment
  • Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

The following qualifications, or equivalents, are the minimum requirements necessary to perform the essential functions of this job:

Education and Formal Training

  • High school diploma or equivalent required
  • Associates degree or Bachelors degree in Psychology/Social Work preferred
  • Nursing Assistant certification accepted
  • BLS from the American Heart Association required
  • Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training and certification within 30 days of employment

Work Experience

2 years of psychiatric experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

  • Proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking the English language
  • Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Must possess excellent customer service skills
  • Demonstrates competency to work with children, adolescents, and adults with mental illness
  • Possesses basic knowledge of age specific considerations for the population served
  • Must possess unrestricted NCI Certification upon completion of training
  • General computer competency required

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to work variable shifts
  • Position requires bending, prolonged standing, and walking

Ability to Turn and Lift Patients

Must possess visual and auditory acuity for observation and manual dexterity for computer use and documentation

May involve skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious material

Required Licenses and Certifications

Cape Fear Valley Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Key Responsibilities

The Behavioral Health Technician provides direct patient care, including monitoring vital signs, assisting with daily living activities, and providing emotional support in a psychiatric emergency setting. They also facilitate therapeutic groups, perform safety rounds, and utilize de-escalation techniques to maintain a secure environment.

Requirements

Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent, with a preference for an associate or bachelor degree in Psychology or Social Work. A BLS certification is required, and the role prefers two years of psychiatric experience.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Vital Signs MonitoringActivities Of Daily Living AssistancePsychiatric CareSafety MonitoringTherapeutic Environment MaintenanceTeam Collaboration

Psychiatry Career Context

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Psychiatry listings this role was benchmarked against, 76% have no call, 46% require no weekends.

What does the Psychiatry market look like in North Carolina?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score3.0 / 10 · above average in behavioral health tech rolesranked against 1,557 Behavioral Health Tech roles listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed paynot listedPsychiatry median $39k (middle half $36k–$51k)36 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingNorth Carolina index 94.3US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Work settingon-sitepeers: 76% no call · 46% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 4% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 12% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Psychiatry listings1,316 in the last 30 days923 the 30 days before (+43%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Psychiatry pay trend+13.3% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (1,557 Behavioral Health Tech roles listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Behavioral Health Tech Jobs

37 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

25 jobs
3
<$35k
5
$35k-40k
5
$40k-45k
8
$45k-50k
4
$50k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

23 jobs
401k / retirement match
100%
CME allowance
22%
Sign-on bonus
9%
Loan repayment
4%
PSLF eligible
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Behavioral Health Technician

Centurion Health · Taylorville, Illinois

$26.91-$28.58/hr
#2

Therapeutic Recreation Behavioral Health Technician (BHT)

New Horizon Community Care · Tolleson, Arizona

$23-$27/hr
#3

Behavioral Health Technician

$16-$25/hr
#4

Behavioral Health Tech IV

$22-$25/hr
+ 35 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Psychiatry (Behavioral Health Tech) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 114 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Fayetteville

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$204k
Typical market rent
$1,362/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
92.0
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Fayetteville, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.