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The differences between diagnostic technicians and monitor technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a diagnostic technician and a monitor technician. Additionally, a diagnostic technician has an average salary of $49,571, which is higher than the $35,460 average annual salary of a monitor technician.
The top three skills for a diagnostic technician include patients, patient care and CPR. The most important skills for a monitor technician are patients, EKG, and BLS.
| Diagnostic Technician | Monitor Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $49,571 | $35,460 |
| Hourly rate | $23.83 | $17.05 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 70,089 | 56,963 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Diagnostic Technicians are specialists in the inspecting, maintenance, and repair of equipment or service. Diagnostic Technicians can be working in the automotive sector, inspecting and repairing cars, to performing ultrasound procedures in the healthcare industry. Their duties include analyzing and collecting data, calibrating equipment, performing diagnostic tests and repairs, and organizing work records and reports. A Diagnostic Technician must have sound knowledge in using technical equipment and adheres to safety regulations when handling any tools.
A monitor technician works in hospitals and other health care centers that provide treatment relating to heart health. They are also known as cardiac monitor technicians, who assist physicians and nurses with diagnosing and interpreting conditions related to the heart through several methods of monitoring and testing. Most of their work includes using machines and other medical technology in tracking patients' heart performance and check for any possible abnormalities. They monitor irregular heartbeats, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest. They also use this technology to perform various tests on the heart but typically do not provide treatment.
Diagnostic technicians and monitor technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diagnostic Technician | Monitor Technician | |
| Average salary | $49,571 | $35,460 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $77,000 | Between $28,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fresno, CA | Medford, OR |
| Highest paying state | California | Utah |
| Best paying company | Waymo | MLK Community Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a diagnostic technician and a monitor technician in terms of educational background:
| Diagnostic Technician | Monitor Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Nursing |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Duke University |
Here are the differences between diagnostic technicians' and monitor technicians' demographics:
| Diagnostic Technician | Monitor Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0% | Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |