Kitsap Mental Health Services logo
Kitsap Mental Health Services
Bremerton, Washington

Behavioral Health Technician I Youth Inpatient Unit

Behavioral Health TechFull-Time

Listed compensation

$22.9-$28.05/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage and nights and shift pattern.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Behavioral Health Technician – Youth Inpatient Unit
  • Full-Time, On-Site in Bremerton, WA
  • Hiring Range: $22.90 – $28.05 Per Hour
  • Additional Pay With Shift Differentials (Up To An Additional $1.25/Hr)
  • Benefits at a Glance
  • Comprehensive Coverage: Health, Dental & Vision
  • Generous PTO: Up to 19 days + 2 mental health days + 10 holidays (pro-rated for part-time)
  • Fully Paid YMCA Membership for you and eligible family members
  • Company-Paid Life & Disability Insurance
  • Student Loan Assistance & Professional Development
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with Company Contributions
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Pet Insurance
  • Free Wellness App (2MorrowHealth)
  • Collaborative, Supportive Team Environment

Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS) is hiring Behavioral Health Technician I team members to support youth receiving inpatient behavioral health treatment. This position helps ensure clients' daily needs are met while maintaining a safe and structured treatment environment.

The role provides hands-on support to both clients and staff while building skills in behavioral health care and therapeutic engagement. If you're committed to supporting youth during critical stages of treatment and recovery, we welcome your application.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Meet client daily needs related to health, safety, and unit operations.
  • Prepare and serve meals.
  • Conduct unit safety checks.
  • Monitor clients according to assigned observation levels.
  • Assist in maintaining a clean and orderly treatment environment.
  • Assist with maintaining adequate inventories of food and non-food supplies.
  • Participate in therapeutic activities and other clinical programming as directed.
  • Observe and assess client mental status throughout assigned shifts.
  • Record client nutritional intake, sleep patterns, and vital signs.
  • Follow behavioral support protocols as directed by supervisors and treatment staff.
  • Complete electronic and paper documentation in accordance with KMHS policies and procedures.
  • Complete paperwork related to admissions, discharges, confidentiality requirements, client rights, inventories, tracking forms, and other required records.
  • Attend mandatory trainings and maintain required certifications and documentation.
  • Support staffing needs within the Youth Inpatient Unit.

Minimum Qualifications

  • EDUCATION: High School Diploma or GED
  • EXPERIENCE: 1 year (customer service, social services, or behavioral health)
  • Valid Washington Food Worker card.

Licensure

Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration. Current CPR certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire; training provided by the organization).

Preferred Qualifications

EXPERIENCE: Experienced (minimum 2 years of job-related experience)

Relevant experience working with clients with severe and persistent mental illness. Capacity to work well with children and families.

Education

Associate's degree in psychology, social services, behavioral health or related field.

Performance Requirements

Knowledge

Maintain working knowledge and skill in verbal de-escalation skills as outlined in agency trainings

Skills

Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other employees, clients, organizations, and the public.

  • Communicates clearly and concisely.
  • Able to maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards.

Abilities

Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member.

Demonstrated ability to work in stressful situations (i. e., clients in crisis).

Adaptability- able to adjust approach to meet changing demands and situations including working with diverse populations.

  • Worksite-Specific Requirements: check applicable worksite(s)
  • WORKSITE #1: Almira Main Campus- Youth Inpatient Unit
  • REQUIREMENT: No additional requirements for this role.
  • Equipment Operated: Standard office equipment including computers, fax machines, copiers, printers, telephones, etc.
  • Work Environment: Office and inpatient treatment unit.
  • Mental/Physical Requirements: Performing the essential duties of the job requires:
  • Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods.
  • Ability to ascend and descend stairs and navigate indoor environments safely.
  • Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds (occasionally).

Ability to assist with client movement and transfers, with or without assistance, in accordance with training and safety protocols.

Ability to safely participate in crisis intervention, including implementation of approved de-escalation techniques and physical restraints in accordance with agency training and policy.

Ability to move quickly and respond to emergencies, including rapid repositioning or short-distance movement to maintain safety.

Ability to use hands and arms for reaching, handling, and manipulation, including reaching above shoulder level.

  • Visual acuity sufficient to read written materials and observe surroundings.
  • Peripheral vision sufficient to monitor clients and the environment.
  • Hearing sufficient to communicate effectively and detect environmental and behavioral cues.

Ability to meet and maintain physical requirements demonstrated through agency-mandated training, including demonstration of ability to: maintain balance, twist torso, forward bend, pivot, sidestep, forward and backward step, crouch, move to secure limb, knee touch to ground, kneel, get up from floor sitting or kneeling position.

Our recruitment processes are designed to prevent discrimination against our people regardless of gender identity or orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any aspect which makes someone unique.

Key Responsibilities

The Behavioral Health Technician supports youth in an inpatient unit by meeting daily needs, conducting safety checks, and monitoring client mental status. They also assist with therapeutic activities, maintain a clean environment, and complete necessary clinical documentation.

Requirements

Candidates must have a high school diploma or GED and at least one year of experience in customer service, social services, or behavioral health. Required certifications include an Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration and a Washington Food Worker card, with CPR certification required within 30 days.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Patient observationMental status assessmentVital signs monitoringClient supportCommunicationTeamwork

Behavioral Health Career Context

Of the 40 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 70% have no call, 43% require no weekends.

Behavioral Health pay on WeekdayDoc is down 5.0% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Behavioral Health by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$48k–$58kBehavioral Health median $52k (middle half $45k–$54k)20 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$50k in purchasing powerWashington index 107.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Behavioral Health listings in Washington28 active1,329 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 70% no call · 43% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Behavioral Health pay trend−5.0% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 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 ~$53k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$4k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Behavioral Health Tech Jobs

19 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

19 jobs · 17 employers
8
<$45k
7
$45k-50k
3
$52k
0
$55k-60k
1
$72k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

14 jobs
401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
21%
Sign-on bonus
14%
Loan repayment
7% this job
PSLF eligible
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Behavioral Health Technician - Float Pool

Essentia Health · Duluth, Minnesota

$23.28-$34.63/hr
#2

Behavioral Health Technician

Discovery Behavioral Health · Fairfax, Virginia

$16-$25/hr
#3

Behavioral Health Associate I

$20-$25/hr
#4

Behavioral Health Associate

$22-$25/hr
+ 17 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 1.5this job 1.5
Better work-life than 50% of Behavioral Health listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,299 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
Kitsap Mental Health Services logo

About Kitsap Mental Health Services

Mental Health Care
Bremerton, WA
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Generous PTO
Paid Holidays
YMCA Membership
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance

Living in Bremerton

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$483k
Typical market rent
$1,879/mo
Residents’ average commute
25 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
105.6
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 · Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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