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Cardiology technician vs clinical technician

The differences between cardiology technicians and clinical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a cardiology technician, becoming a clinical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a cardiology technician has an average salary of $43,580, which is higher than the $35,760 average annual salary of a clinical technician.

The top three skills for a cardiology technician include patients, patient care and arrhythmia. The most important skills for a clinical technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.

Cardiology technician vs clinical technician overview

Cardiology TechnicianClinical Technician
Yearly salary$43,580$35,760
Hourly rate$20.95$17.19
Growth rate10%9%
Number of jobs57,811161,812
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4544
Years of experience212

What does a cardiology technician do?

Cardiology Technicians are responsible for assisting physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases by conducting diagnostic testing, managing equipment, and recording results. Their duties include registering patients, maintaining a patient log, explaining testing and equipment procedures, assisting the patient in the physical examination, and conducting echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, and stress tests. They are also involved in operating physiologic monitors, monitoring instrument readings, conducting pulmonary tests, managing laboratory records, submitting reports, adjusting and cleaning equipment, and maintaining inventory levels. Cardiology Technicians also perform preventive maintenance, handle charge slips, and ensure work complies with professional standards and regulations.

What does a clinical technician do?

A clinical technician is responsible for operating and maintaining clinical equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of all laboratory tools and kits to avoid contamination during medical procedures. Clinical technicians assist the patients with their medical inquiries and needs, collecting samples for laboratory, and helping medical professionals on surgeries and other medical operations. They also maintain medical charts, update patients' information on the database, and administer patients' medication. A clinical technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as strictly following internal guidelines and safety procedures during operations.

Cardiology technician vs clinical technician salary

Cardiology technicians and clinical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Cardiology TechnicianClinical Technician
Average salary$43,580$35,760
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $62,000Between $26,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityEureka, CASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New YorkBrigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between cardiology technician and clinical technician education

There are a few differences between a cardiology technician and a clinical technician in terms of educational background:

Cardiology TechnicianClinical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeEmory UniversityUniversity of Connecticut

Cardiology technician vs clinical technician demographics

Here are the differences between cardiology technicians' and clinical technicians' demographics:

Cardiology TechnicianClinical Technician
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 24.7% Female, 75.3%Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between cardiology technician and clinical technician duties and responsibilities

Cardiology technician example responsibilities.

  • Assist with placement and manage intra-aortic balloon pumps.
  • Perform stress testing, holter monitoring, and pulmonary function testing.
  • Prepare schedules for the next day, prepare patient charts for appointments using EMR system.
  • Attend all training including, CPR and arrythmia course and staff meetings.
  • Administer stress testing, pulmonary function testing, ECG's, pacemaker and AICD testing and general patient management.
  • Conduct thousands of ECG's, plus Holter monitoring, signal average ECG's, computer editing of ECG reports.
  • Show more

Clinical technician example responsibilities.

  • Prepare QC and QA samples for validity testing.
  • Resolve issues from level 1 EMR support as well as EMR issues transfer from other departments.
  • Recognize life threatening situations and activate the emergency response system while assisting with CPR and code cart.
  • Report and document description of patient care information in EMR in accordance with hospital policy and procedure.
  • Participate in reviews and QC of external central laboratory contracts, sample kits and manuals and ensure accuracy.
  • Assist in advance and basic life support techniques, perform EKG's, blood withdrawal, and computer order entry.
  • Show more

Cardiology technician vs clinical technician skills

Common cardiology technician skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Arrhythmia, 5%
  • CPR, 4%
  • ECG, 4%
  • Treadmill, 4%
Common clinical technician skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Phlebotomy, 7%
  • Direct Patient Care, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • EKG, 4%

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