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The differences between device engineers and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a device engineer, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a device engineer has an average salary of $97,458, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.
The top three skills for a device engineer include python, data analysis and JMP. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.
| Device Engineer | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $97,458 | $38,859 |
| Hourly rate | $46.85 | $18.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 42,316 | 164,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
A device engineer specializes in designing and developing mechanical devices and equipment in adherence to industry or client needs. They may work for companies that produce medical, construction, or even manufacturing devices. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place of employment, they typically include conducting research and analysis, creating prototypes and test structures, coordinating with staff and fellow engineers, performing installations and repairs, and providing technical support to staff as needed. Moreover, a device engineer participates in developing and promoting safety standards and regulations for the products and the workplace.
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.
Device engineers and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Device Engineer | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average salary | $97,458 | $38,859 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $130,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Denton, TX |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a device engineer and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:
| Device Engineer | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Nursing |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between device engineers' and certified medical technicians' demographics:
| Device Engineer | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 24.8% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 6% | 8% |