Seattle Children's logo
Seattle Children's
Seattle, Washington

Pediatric Mental Health Specialist I/II

HealthcareFull-Time

Listed compensation

$27.17-$44.83/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 19m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Provide age-appropriate coaching and supervision to patients and families hospitalized on the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Unit (PBMU). The PMHS II's work is directed by Nursing Leaders or designee.

Incumbents are required to work with complex and acute psychiatric patients and be comfortable in dealing with stressful and quickly changing environments. This includes initiating appropriate interventions that promote a healthy and safe environment for patients, families and staff.

PMHS IIs will also have increased responsibility in clinical quality improvement activities and peer development by advocating for unit changes, participation in change management, and participation in new staff training.

Required Education and Experience

BA or BS in psychosocial related field, OR Equivalent education, OR Equivalent direct experience (e. g. direct care to patients in crisis or with acute mental health needs, OR Combination of education and experience (e. g. an Associate degree plus relevant direct experience).

AND must have minimum of one year of experience providing direct care to acute mental health patients. Experience may include a combination of pediatric and adult populations; however, pediatric experience is preferred.

Required Credentials

Registration as a Nursing Assistant in Washington State. Current Basic Life Support (BLS). Safety Care (internal training): must complete all training competencies (completion of minimum passing requirements alone will not fulfill this credential). Required within 3 months of hire and annually thereafter. Ukeru training required within 3 months of hire and annually thereafter.

Preferred

Experience working with children/adolescents in crisis. Preferred candidates will have bilingual skills.

Compensation Range

$27.17 - $44.83 per hour

Salary Information

This compensation range was calculated based on full-time employment (2080 hours worked per calendar year). Offers are determined by multiple factors including equity, skills, experience, and expertise, and may vary within the range provided.

Disclaimer for Out of State Applicants

This compensation range is specific to Seattle, positions located outside of Seattle may be compensated differently depending on various factors.

Benefits Information

Seattle Children’s offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 403(b), life insurance, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more. Additional details on our benefits can be found on our website seattlechildrens.org.

About Us

Hope. Care. Cure. These three simple words capture what we do at Seattle Children’s – to help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible. Are you ready to engage with a mission-driven organization that is life-changing to many, and touches the hearts of all? #HOPECARECURE

Our founding promise to the community is as valid today as it was over a century ago: we will care for all children in our region, regardless of the families’ ability to pay. Together, we deliver superior patient care, advance new discoveries and treatments through pediatric research, and serve as the pediatric and adolescent, academic medical center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho – the largest region of any children’s hospital in the country.

U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Seattle Children’s among the nation’s best children’s hospitals. For more than a decade, Seattle Children’s has been nationally recognized in key specialty areas. We are honored to be one of the nation’s very best places to care for children and the top-ranked pediatric hospital in Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

As a Magnet designated institution, we recognize the importance of hiring and developing great talent to provide best-in-class care to the patients and families we serve. Our organizational DNA takes form in our core values: Compassion, Excellence, Integrity, Collaboration, Equity and Innovation.

Whether it’s delivering frontline care to our patients in a kind and caring manner, practicing the highest standards of quality and safety, or being relentlessly curious as we work towards eradicating childhood diseases, these values are the fabric of our culture and community. The future starts here.

Our Commitment

Seattle Children’s welcomes people of all experiences, backgrounds, and thoughts as this is what drives our spirit of inquiry and allows us to better connect with our patients and families. Our organization recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes based on merit without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

The people who work at Seattle Children’s are members of a community that seeks to respect and celebrate all the qualities that make each of us unique. Each of us is empowered to be ourselves.

Seattle Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Workplace and Affirmative Action Employer.

Key Responsibilities

Provide age-appropriate coaching and supervision to patients and families hospitalized on the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Unit. Facilitate a safe environment through appropriate interventions and participate in clinical quality improvement and staff training activities.

Requirements

Requires a BA/BS in a psychosocial field or equivalent experience, plus at least one year of direct care experience with acute mental health patients. Must hold a Washington State Nursing Assistant registration and current BLS certification.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Psychiatric careCrisis interventionPatient supervisionPediatric careAdolescent careNursing assistance

Healthcare Professional Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$75k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $70k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

healthcare pay on WeekdayDoc is down 20.0% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

What does the healthcare market look like in Washington?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$57k–$93khealthcare median $102k (middle half $80k–$103k)16 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$70k in purchasing powerWashington index 107.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
healthcare listings in Washington39 active2,006 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
healthcare pay trend−20.0% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$75k midpoint, that is roughly $3k–$5k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Work-life snapshot

3.0/ 10
Listing-based score
Seattle Children's logo

About Seattle Children's

Hospitals and Health Care
Seattle, WA
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, and vision plans
403(b)
Life insurance
Paid time off
Tuition reimbursement

Living in Seattle

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$869k
Typical market rent
$2,227/mo
Residents’ average commute
26 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.1
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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