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The differences between cardiology technicians and medical assistants 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 medical assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a cardiology technician has an average salary of $43,580, which is higher than the $34,900 average annual salary of a medical assistant.
The top three skills for a cardiology technician include patients, patient care and arrhythmia. The most important skills for a medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and patient care.
| Cardiology Technician | Medical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $43,580 | $34,900 |
| Hourly rate | $20.95 | $16.78 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 57,811 | 189,915 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 24% |
| Average age | 45 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
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.
Medical assistants provide support to medical practitioners in both administrative and clerical tasks. They keep and update the patient's medical records, administer medicines under the supervision of a physician, assist during medical examinations, prepare medical samples for laboratory testing, manage the schedule of appointments, and assist the patients with their bills and in filling out needed forms, such as insurance-related documents. Medical assistants should have good communication skills and analytical skills, be organized, and be flexible. They should also have knowledge of how to operate some medical equipment such as x-ray machines.
Cardiology technicians and medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cardiology Technician | Medical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $43,580 | $34,900 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $62,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Eureka, CA | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Education | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a cardiology technician and a medical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Cardiology Technician | Medical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 24% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | Emory University | - |
Here are the differences between cardiology technicians' and medical assistants' demographics:
| Cardiology Technician | Medical Assistant | |
| Average age | 45 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3% | Male, 10.4% Female, 89.6% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 25.7% Asian, 8.8% White, 49.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |