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Cardiology technician vs monitor technician

The differences between cardiology technicians and monitor technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a cardiology technician and a monitor technician. Additionally, a cardiology technician has an average salary of $43,580, which is higher than the $35,460 average annual salary of a monitor technician.

The top three skills for a cardiology technician include patients, patient care and arrhythmia. The most important skills for a monitor technician are patients, EKG, and BLS.

Cardiology technician vs monitor technician overview

Cardiology TechnicianMonitor Technician
Yearly salary$43,580$35,460
Hourly rate$20.95$17.05
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs57,81156,963
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

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 monitor technician do?

A monitor technician works in hospitals and other health care centers that provide treatment relating to heart health. They are also known as cardiac monitor technicians, who assist physicians and nurses with diagnosing and interpreting conditions related to the heart through several methods of monitoring and testing. Most of their work includes using machines and other medical technology in tracking patients' heart performance and check for any possible abnormalities. They monitor irregular heartbeats, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest. They also use this technology to perform various tests on the heart but typically do not provide treatment.

Cardiology technician vs monitor technician salary

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

Cardiology TechnicianMonitor Technician
Average salary$43,580$35,460
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $62,000Between $28,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityEureka, CAMedford, OR
Highest paying stateCaliforniaUtah
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New YorkMLK Community Healthcare
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between cardiology technician and monitor technician education

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

Cardiology TechnicianMonitor Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeEmory UniversityDuke University

Cardiology technician vs monitor technician demographics

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

Cardiology TechnicianMonitor Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 24.7% Female, 75.3%Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3%
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, 10.6% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between cardiology technician and monitor 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

Monitor technician example responsibilities.

  • Assist with placement and manage intra-aortic balloon pumps.
  • Operate electrocardiogram (EKG), cardiac treadmill testing equipment and record data.
  • Administer care to patients in a LATC setting, support with ambulation and rehabilitation procedure.
  • Ensure telemetry boxes are returned from the floors when patients are discharge or transfer to ICU.
  • Work in a very large hospital system doing EEG's on premature infants to geriatric patients.
  • Monitor heart rhythm patterns, record and report normal and abnormal heart rhythm patterns and ECG interval measurements utilizing telemetry equipment.
  • Show more

Cardiology technician vs monitor technician skills

Common cardiology technician skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Arrhythmia, 5%
  • CPR, 4%
  • ECG, 4%
  • Treadmill, 4%
Common monitor technician skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • EKG, 12%
  • BLS, 8%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • Cardiac Rhythms, 6%
  • Arrhythmia, 4%

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