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Anesthesia technician vs technician

The differences between anesthesia technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an anesthesia technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an anesthesia technician has an average salary of $39,640, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.

The top three skills for an anesthesia technician include patients, patient care and BLS. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Anesthesia technician vs technician overview

Anesthesia TechnicianTechnician
Yearly salary$39,640$38,045
Hourly rate$19.06$18.29
Growth rate6%1%
Number of jobs78,132596,842
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age4140
Years of experience122

What does an anesthesia technician do?

Anesthesia technicians are healthcare professionals who oversee activities related to anesthetics. They administer anesthesia to patients and assist doctors in related activities. They also monitor the patient after the anesthesia is administered to ensure that no harmful side effects occurred. Anesthesia technicians are expected to know how to test for anesthetic allergies and to spot signs of such allergies. They should be familiar with the different techniques, solutions, and equipment used for anesthetic procedures. Aside from those, anesthesia technicians are also expected to manage the inventory of anesthetic solutions and to trigger purchase requests for new stocks.

What does a technician do?

Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.

Anesthesia technician vs technician salary

Anesthesia technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Anesthesia TechnicianTechnician
Average salary$39,640$38,045
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $52,000Between $24,000 And $58,000
Highest paying CityRedwood City, CASan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyChildren's Hospital Los AngelesMicrosoft
Best paying industryEducationTelecommunication

Differences between anesthesia technician and technician education

There are a few differences between an anesthesia technician and a technician in terms of educational background:

Anesthesia TechnicianTechnician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorNursingBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Connecticut-

Anesthesia technician vs technician demographics

Here are the differences between anesthesia technicians' and technicians' demographics:

Anesthesia TechnicianTechnician
Average age4140
Gender ratioMale, 50.5% Female, 49.5%Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 4.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage13%2%

Differences between anesthesia technician and technician duties and responsibilities

Anesthesia technician example responsibilities.

  • Assess vitals, apply splints and other orthopedic devices, perform wind care, phlebotomy and EKG's.
  • Maintain an unobstruct operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
  • Provide appropriate life-saving care and assist veterinarian in triage emergency cases.
  • Provide anesthesia technician services to patients under the direct supervision of a license anesthesia care provider designate by the client facility.
  • Assist anesthesiologists in preparing patients for local or general anesthesia in the areas of main surgery, outpatient surgery and labor/delivery.
  • Scrub minor ENT, GYN, and Ortho procedures.
  • Show more

Technician example responsibilities.

  • Achieve multiple ASE certifications within first year of employment.
  • Implement and manage UHF radio base stations, repeaters, and command network, effectively linking all regional headquarters.
  • Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
  • Maintain numerous automate scripts to assist in managing Linux systems.
  • Manage, troubleshot and repair multiple wireless technologies including fiber optic transmission switches.
  • Install peripherals including printers, fax machines, scanners, and smartphones.
  • Show more

Anesthesia technician vs technician skills

Common anesthesia technician skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Patient Care, 11%
  • BLS, 7%
  • Anesthesia Tech, 6%
  • Surgery, 5%
  • IV, 3%
Common technician skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Diagnosis, 5%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 4%

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