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The differences between diagnostic medical sonographers and certified medical 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 diagnostic medical sonographer, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a diagnostic medical sonographer has an average salary of $85,607, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.
The top three skills for a diagnostic medical sonographer include patients, ARDMS and patient care. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $85,607 | $38,859 |
| Hourly rate | $41.16 | $18.68 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 58,800 | 164,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A Diagnostic Medical Sonographer uses ultrasound high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal body tissues. Some typical duties include preparing patients, explaining the exams, and reporting the results to the patients or a physician.
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.
Diagnostic medical sonographers and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average salary | $85,607 | $38,859 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $139,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Eureka, CA | Denton, TX |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | St. Mary's Health Inc. | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a diagnostic medical sonographer and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between diagnostic medical sonographers' and certified medical technicians' demographics:
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 13.4% Female, 86.6% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |