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Clinical technician vs health technician

The differences between clinical technicians and health technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a health technician has an average salary of $37,873, which is higher than the $35,760 average annual salary of a clinical technician.

The top three skills for a clinical technician include patients, vital signs and phlebotomy. The most important skills for a health technician are patients, excellent interpersonal, and customer service.

Clinical technician vs health technician overview

Clinical TechnicianHealth Technician
Yearly salary$35,760$37,873
Hourly rate$17.19$18.21
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs161,812110,277
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age4434
Years of experience12-

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.

What does a health technician do?

A health technician is responsible for supporting medical operations in a health care facility by performing administrative and clerical duties, ensuring that the organization provides the highest quality care service to the patients. Health technicians process patients' information, manage their medical payments, monitor their conditions as instructed by physicians, maintain an organized medical chart, administer medication, and assist in conducting medical procedures. They also check the adequacy of stock inventories and write request reports, as well as inspecting the cleanliness of all the medical tools and equipment during operations.

Clinical technician vs health technician salary

Clinical technicians and health technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical TechnicianHealth Technician
Average salary$35,760$37,873
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $48,000Between $27,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WABoston, MA
Highest paying stateAlaskaMassachusetts
Best paying companyBrigham and Women's HospitalMeta
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between clinical technician and health technician education

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

Clinical TechnicianHealth Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of ConnecticutEmory University

Clinical technician vs health technician demographics

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

Clinical TechnicianHealth Technician
Average age4434
Gender ratioMale, 26.6% Female, 73.4%Male, 30.9% Female, 69.1%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage8%15%

Differences between clinical technician and health technician duties and responsibilities

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.
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Health technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain and manage medical and administrative records for all patients assign to clinic area to assure accurate care and patient confidentiality.
  • Supervise labs, diets, schedule radiology procedures, EKG's, respiratory, and medical tasks for patients.
  • Can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and/or initiate appropriate emergency alert notifications.
  • Administer ABA therapy for children with autism and provide support for other technicians when not with own clients.
  • Assist providers in direct physical examinations, minor procedures, emergency care to include CPR, and other clinical duties.
  • Assist children with autism spectrum disorders in learning life still and helping them transition successfully in all aspects of their lives.
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Clinical technician vs health technician skills

Common clinical technician skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Phlebotomy, 7%
  • Direct Patient Care, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • EKG, 4%
Common health technician skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 8%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Blood Pressure, 6%
  • Veterans, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 5%

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