Communications dispatcher vs certified medical technician

The differences between communications dispatchers and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $35,153 average annual salary of a communications dispatcher.

The top three skills for a communications dispatcher include computer aided dispatch, CAD and emergency situations. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Communications dispatcher vs certified medical technician overview

	Communications Dispatcher	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$35,153	$38,859
Hourly rate	$16.90	$18.68
Growth rate	4%	5%
Number of jobs	19,172	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	39	44
Years of experience	-	12

What does a communications dispatcher do?

Communications dispatchers are responsible for answering emergency calls and dispatch officials to sort out the situation. They are often called 911 operators or 911 dispatchers and respond to the calls from the public and relay the messages to the medical personnel, police, or the fire staff to the scene of the emergency occasion. Typical duties of communications dispatchers include receiving and responding to emergency calls, recording the calls, evaluating incidents, and prioritizing calls. Their job requires them to earn a certain certification as well as training. Interpersonal and strong listening skills are vital in this field.

What does a certified medical technician do?

Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.

Communications dispatcher vs certified medical technician salary

Communications dispatchers and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Communications Dispatcher	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$35,153	$38,859
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $47,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	California	Alaska
Best paying company	City of Richmond	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Government	Health Care

Differences between communications dispatcher and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a communications dispatcher and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Communications Dispatcher	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Nursing
Most common college	-	University of Connecticut

Communications dispatcher vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between communications dispatchers' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Communications Dispatcher	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	39	44
Gender ratio	Male, 29.6% Female, 70.4%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 0.9% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	17%	8%

Differences between communications dispatcher and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Communications dispatcher example responsibilities.

Manage Facebook page and create event page for grand opening.
Provide first aid, CPR and emergency oxygen as required.
Provide telephone service on the TDD communication device for the deaf and hearing impair.
Respond verbally and used TDD (text telephone device for hearing or speech impair) to communicate with callers when need.
Maintain composure and compassion while handling emergency and non-emergency calls from a diverse community
Coordinate the response of ambulances and public safety units to emergency sites or in-progress crime situations.

Certified medical technician example responsibilities.

Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.

Communications dispatcher vs certified medical technician skills

Common communications dispatcher skills

Computer Aided Dispatch, 12%
CAD, 8%
Emergency Situations, 5%
CPR, 5%
Dispatch System, 5%
Good Judgment, 5%

Common certified medical technician skills

Patients, 17%
Vital Signs, 12%
CPR, 8%
Administer Medications, 7%
Resident Care, 6%
HIPAA, 6%

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Communications Dispatcher
Communications Dispatcher vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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