Developmental technician vs patient care technician

The differences between developmental technicians and patient care technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a patient care technician has an average salary of $32,806, which is higher than the $31,175 average annual salary of a developmental technician.

The top three skills for a developmental technician include developmental disabilities, direct care and autism. The most important skills for a patient care technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.

Developmental technician vs patient care technician overview

	Developmental Technician	Patient Care Technician
Yearly salary	$31,175	$32,806
Hourly rate	$14.99	$15.77
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	58,292	167,520
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Average age	34	34
Years of experience	-	-

Developmental technician vs patient care technician salary

Developmental technicians and patient care technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Developmental Technician	Patient Care Technician
Average salary	$31,175	$32,806
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $39,000	Between $24,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	South Portland, ME	Rochester, NH
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	Vermont
Best paying company	West Tennessee Healthcare	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Best paying industry	Energy	Health Care

Differences between developmental technician and patient care technician education

There are a few differences between a developmental technician and a patient care technician in terms of educational background:

	Developmental Technician	Patient Care Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Most common major	Psychology	Nursing
Most common college	Northwestern University	Emory University

Developmental technician vs patient care technician demographics

Here are the differences between developmental technicians' and patient care technicians' demographics:

	Developmental Technician	Patient Care Technician
Average age	34	34
Gender ratio	Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5%	Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0%
Race ratio	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%	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 Percentage	15%	15%

Differences between developmental technician and patient care technician duties and responsibilities

Developmental technician example responsibilities.

Manage the behavior of students using the CPI training skills when necessary.
Assist individuals with their ADL's yet allowing and encouraging independence.
Develop, plan, and run vocational and safety goals for individuals.
Assist with ADL's, supervise meals, activities daily, provide a safe and structure environment.
Provide rehabilitation opportunities through facilitation of integrate rehabilitation and recreation services.
Enhance the independents of individual with DD.

Patient care technician example responsibilities.

Manage care and prepare medical records, transcription and supply orders.
Manage daily care of high acuity patients with neurological trauma/disorders and post-surgery.
Qualify to perform patient care responsibilities on catheter patients.
Transport patients using wheelchairs and stretchers and assist patients to ambulate safely.
Assist with transferring patients in and out of wheelchairs, recliners, and stretchers.
Apply protective restraints safely and appropriately, assist in the admission, discharge and transfer of patients as needed.

Developmental technician vs patient care technician skills

Common developmental technician skills

Developmental Disabilities, 16%
Direct Care, 13%
Autism, 9%
Food Preparation, 9%
Behavioral Training, 8%
Mental Health, 8%

Common patient care technician skills

Patients, 24%
Vital Signs, 9%
Phlebotomy, 7%
CPR, 6%
Direct Patient Care, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Developmental Technician
Developmental Technician vs Patient Care Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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