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Bio medical technician vs medical technologist

The differences between bio medical technicians and medical technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a bio medical technician, becoming a medical technologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a bio medical technician has an average salary of $60,490, which is higher than the $53,249 average annual salary of a medical technologist.

The top three skills for a bio medical technician include patients, OSHA and hand tools. The most important skills for a medical technologist are patients, clinical laboratory, and ASCP.

Bio medical technician vs medical technologist overview

BIO Medical TechnicianMedical Technologist
Yearly salary$60,490$53,249
Hourly rate$29.08$25.60
Growth rate17%-
Number of jobs108,555116,495
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4444
Years of experience122

What does a bio medical technician do?

A biomedical technician is responsible for installing, repairing, and maintaining biomedical equipment. Your day-to-day duties include testing and calibrating parts, performing preventative maintenance on medical equipment to ensure patients receive high-quality service and treatment, and directing the operation of biomedical equipment. As a biomedical technician, it is your responsibility to keep this equipment in good condition by performing tests and following best practices for preventative maintenance. You are also responsible for maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.

What does a medical technologist do?

A medical technologist's role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid. The produced results will be crucial to a patient's diagnosis and further treatments. It is also essential for medical technologists to keep a precise record of data and coordinate with fellow team members and physicians to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of results. Furthermore, a medical technologist can choose to work in different establishments such as a hospital, laboratory, or private clinic.

Bio medical technician vs medical technologist salary

Bio medical technicians and medical technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

BIO Medical TechnicianMedical Technologist
Average salary$60,490$53,249
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $91,000Between $41,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Children's Hospital Colorado
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between bio medical technician and medical technologist education

There are a few differences between a bio medical technician and a medical technologist in terms of educational background:

BIO Medical TechnicianMedical Technologist
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringMedical Technician
Most common collegePurdue UniversityUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Bio medical technician vs medical technologist demographics

Here are the differences between bio medical technicians' and medical technologists' demographics:

BIO Medical TechnicianMedical Technologist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 76.5% Female, 23.5%Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between bio medical technician and medical technologist duties and responsibilities

Bio medical technician example responsibilities.

  • Perform all biomedical technician functions to troubleshoot, repair and manage hospital equipment.
  • Maintain, troubleshoot and repair various laboratory equipment: sterilizers, centrifuges, microscopes, etc.
  • Collect water samples for AAMI analysis according to company, state, and federal regulations and document as appropriate.
  • Repair and troubleshooting of KCI and customer own products in adherence to strict OSHA, FDA, and ISO guidelines.
  • Train new employees and students on PACS.
  • Assist with implementation of PACS.
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Medical technologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage departmental recovery activities after installation of upgrades affecting the LIS affect.
  • Perform medical/laboratory procedures in all departments including microbiology, chemistry, blood bank, hematology, urinalysis, and immunology.
  • Perform laboratory test to corporal fluids applying analysis fields like biochemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunology, urinalysis and blood bank
  • Execute and analyze laboratory test in biochemistry, urinalysis, hematology, microbiology, blood bank and serology department.
  • Direct participation on proficiency testing programs on hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, blood bank, serology, and bacteriology.
  • Work full-time as an evening/night shift generalist rotating through hematology, urinalysis, serology, chemistry, blood bank and microbiology.
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Bio medical technician vs medical technologist skills

Common bio medical technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • OSHA, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Clinical Equipment, 5%
  • Preventive Maintenance, 5%
  • Test Equipment, 5%
Common medical technologist skills
  • Patients, 10%
  • Clinical Laboratory, 8%
  • ASCP, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Microbiology, 4%

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