Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Texas
Psychiatric nurse jobs in Texas are consistently in demand, with strong hiring concentrated in inpatient behavioral health units, community mental health centers, correctional facilities, and VA systems serving one of the country's largest veteran populations. Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio lead in openings, anchored by employers like UT Health, Baylor Scott & White, and the Texas Department of State Health Services. The most sought-after specializations include forensic psychiatric nursing, child and adolescent behavioral health, and substance use disorder treatment. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 83+ Psychiatric Nurse jobs
Licensure to prescribe psychotropic medication in the state of Texas.
Job Types: Contract, Part-time, Full-time
Pay: $68,000.00 - $98,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
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Where Texas roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Psychiatric Nurse Job Market in Texas
A snapshot from current Texas openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Legion Health12
- Serenity Healthcare11
- One Behavioral4
- Rippling2
- Salma Health2S
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Science & Research
What Texas Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in psychiatric nurse jobs across Texas.
- Active Registered Nurse license issued or recognized by the Texas Board of Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from an accredited program
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC) preferred or required for senior roles
- Minimum one to two years of experience in a behavioral health or inpatient psychiatric setting
- Current BLS and CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) or equivalent de-escalation certification
- Familiarity with Texas Mental Health Code procedures, involuntary commitment protocols, and EMR systems
Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Texas: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a psychiatric nurse in Texas?
To become a psychiatric nurse in Texas, you must first earn an ADN or BSN from an accredited nursing program, then pass the NCLEX-RN to obtain an active Registered Nurse license through the Texas Board of Nursing. From there, you work in a psychiatric or behavioral health setting to build clinical experience. Many employers also expect or encourage the PMH-BC certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center to advance into specialized psychiatric nursing roles.
How much do psychiatric nurses make in Texas?
Psychiatric nurses in Texas earn a median of about $95,970 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $67,120 for the lowest 10% to over $127,950 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire psychiatric nurses in Texas?
Employers hiring psychiatric nurses in Texas right now include Legion Health, Serenity Healthcare, and One Behavioral, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Texas's large integrated health systems, state-operated psychiatric facilities, and federally qualified community mental health centers generate particularly steady demand for psychiatric nursing staff across the state.
Which Texas cities have the most psychiatric nurse jobs?
Austin, Houston, and San Antonio have the most psychiatric nurse openings in Texas. Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth generate the highest volume of listings due to their large academic medical centers, private behavioral health hospital networks, and VA facilities, while San Antonio's concentration of military installations and associated VA and TRICARE-network providers creates consistent demand for psychiatric nursing professionals in that metro.
Are there remote psychiatric nurse jobs in Texas?
Yes, but they're rare. Psychiatric nursing is primarily a hands-on clinical role that requires in-person patient assessment, medication administration, and crisis intervention, so fully remote positions are limited. About 60% of psychiatric nurse openings tied to Texas are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and the portions most suited to remote work include telepsychiatry triage coordination, utilization review, and care management functions within larger behavioral health systems.
How can I get hired as a psychiatric nurse in Texas with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to new graduate RN residency programs with a behavioral health rotation, offered by systems like Baylor Scott & White, UT Health, and Texas Health Resources. State-operated facilities managed by the Texas Department of State Health Services also hire new RNs into structured orientation tracks for inpatient psychiatric units. Lateral moves from med-surg, emergency, or substance use roles are common, and holding an active Texas Board of Nursing RN license with a completed NCLEX-RN is the essential credential before applying.
Where can I find and apply to psychiatric nurse jobs in Texas?
You can find and apply to psychiatric nurse jobs in Texas on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, specialty, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 83 Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Texas
Find roles in Texas that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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