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The differences between clinical associates 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 clinical associate, becoming a clinical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a clinical associate has an average salary of $91,027, which is higher than the $35,760 average annual salary of a clinical technician.
The top three skills for a clinical associate include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for a clinical technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.
| Clinical Associate | Clinical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $91,027 | $35,760 |
| Hourly rate | $43.76 | $17.19 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 56,977 | 161,812 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A clinical associate is responsible for supporting the operations of a medical facility by performing administrative and clerical duties as needed to provide high-quality care services for the patients and assisting health care professionals in performing medical procedures. Clinical associates monitor the conditions of the patients, administer medication, collect laboratory samples, and conduct initial medical assessments such as checking temperature and vital signs. A clinical associate must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on addressing different patients' needs and reporting the patients' progress to the physicians.
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.
Clinical associates and clinical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Associate | Clinical Technician | |
| Average salary | $91,027 | $35,760 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $208,000 | Between $26,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a clinical associate and a clinical technician in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Associate | Clinical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between clinical associates' and clinical technicians' demographics:
| Clinical Associate | Clinical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0% | Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 8.6% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 Percentage | 9% | 8% |