What does a diagnostic technician do?
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.
Diagnostic technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real diagnostic technician resumes:
- Establish work procedures for the radiology staff.
- Perform EKG testing on both inpatients and outpatients.
- Assist in daily maintenance and troubleshooting of PACS.
- Perform RNA and DNA extraction by using Qiagen kit.
- Perform cardiology and EKG procedures as directed by medical staff.
- Operated/Manage ECG, a, and DCG as needed per MD orders.
- Major contributor in the implementation of CR and DR equipment within the department.
- Attach Holter monitors on outpatients and mark the important rhythms on reports for physicians.
- Utilize PCR technology to produce file reagents used to manufacture various diagnostic test kits.
- Utilize PCR procedures to determine different genetic abnormalities find in common forms of cancer.
- Keep EMG rooms, machines and supplies organize, clean, order and in stock.
- Perform extraction of DNA and RNA from whole blood, bone marrow and tissue samples.
- Perform various additional duties to include quality control, training and communications with patients and radiologists.
- Demonstrate radiation protection/safety for patients, staff, and self as outlined in department protocols and regulatory guidelines.
- Perform standard and complex electroencephalographic (EEG) procedures, nerve conduction tests, and other tests as needed.
Diagnostic technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 27% of Diagnostic Technicians are proficient in Patients, Patient Care, and CPR. They’re also known for soft skills such as Math skills, Interpersonal skills, and Technical skills.
We break down the percentage of Diagnostic Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 27%
Delivered customer focused care utilizing the Star Service Standards to include transport of patients as necessary to facilitate optimal patient care/flow.
- Patient Care, 16%
Job Description: Diagnostic Technologist Produce high quality diagnostic images while providing excellent patient care.
- CPR, 13%
Expanded professional knowledge base by attending various seminars and training sessions including CPR and Crisis Patient Intervention certification.
- Radiology, 7%
Reported diagnostic equipment malfunctions and supply inventory to Radiology department manager.
- Diagnosis, 4%
Performed inspection and complex diagnosis and classification of repairs for all principal manufacturer vehicles.
- EEG, 2%
Performed standard and complex electroencephalographic (EEG) procedures, nerve conduction tests, and other tests as needed.
"patients," "patient care," and "cpr" are among the most common skills that diagnostic technicians use at work. You can find even more diagnostic technician responsibilities below, including:
Math skills. One of the key soft skills for a diagnostic technician to have is math skills. You can see how this relates to what diagnostic technicians do because "radiologic and mri technologists may need to calculate the proper amount of radiation or magnetic resonance emitted in imaging procedures." Additionally, a diagnostic technician resume shows how diagnostic technicians use math skills: "generate monthly operations statistics (testing volumes, repeat rates, invalid test results, genetic allele frequencies) and billing. "
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling diagnostic technician duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "radiologic and mri technologists work closely with patients who may be stressed or in pain." According to a diagnostic technician resume, here's how diagnostic technicians can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "maintain excellent interpersonal communication, time management, and problem resolution skills. "
Technical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of diagnostic technicians is technical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday diagnostic technician duties, as "radiologic and mri technologists must understand how to operate complex machinery." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "offered patient care service using general and specified imaging modalities under control of physician but not needing continuous technical supervision. "
Detail oriented. For certain diagnostic technician responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "detail oriented." The day-to-day duties of a diagnostic technician rely on this skill, as "radiologic and mri technologists must follow instructions exactly to get the images needed for diagnoses." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what diagnostic technicians do: "maintained ekg procedure room, including detailed management of computerized patient check-in system. "
The three companies that hire the most diagnostic technicians are:
- UPMC78 diagnostic technicians jobs
- Conrad's Tire Express & Total Car Care67 diagnostic technicians jobs
- Methodist Health System27 diagnostic technicians jobs
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Compare different diagnostic technicians
Diagnostic technician vs. Mri and ct technologist
Multi-modality technologists focus on the imaging needed for medical diagnosis. The task of a multi-modality technologist is to conduct radiology exams and other diagnostic procedures requested by doctors. A multi-modality technologist's main goal is to ensure that all diagnostic requests are accomplished accurately to help doctors give a prescription. In a healthcare facility, accurate testing and diagnosis is a necessity. It is the main reason why technologists are essential in many hospitals and laboratories.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a diagnostic technician are more likely to require skills like "diagnosis," "eeg," "ekg," and "radiographic procedures." On the other hand, a job as an mri and ct technologist requires skills like "arrt," "magnetic resonance imaging," "magnetic resonance," and "ct scan." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, mri and ct technologists reach similar levels of education than diagnostic technicians. Mri and ct technologists are 2.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Diagnostic technician vs. Multi-modality technologist
A CT Technologist's role involves the use of computerized tomography (CT) scanners to diagnose patients' medical issues. This process consists of producing cross-section images of internal organs and tissues.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real diagnostic technician resumes. While diagnostic technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "radiology," "diagnosis," "eeg," and "radiographic procedures," multi-modality technologists use skills like "bls," "multi," "arrt," and "ultrasound."
Multi-modality technologists may earn a higher salary than diagnostic technicians, but multi-modality technologists earn the most pay in the transportation industry with an average salary of $70,400. On the other hand, diagnostic technicians receive higher pay in the telecommunication industry, where they earn an average salary of $75,136.In general, multi-modality technologists achieve similar levels of education than diagnostic technicians. They're 2.6% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Diagnostic technician vs. Ct technologist
A Pet/CT Technologist performs examinations of patients of all ages for the purpose of assisting in the diagnosis of illnesses. They maintain a clean environment inside and outside of the mobile coach/facility.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a diagnostic technician is likely to be skilled in "patient care," "radiology," "diagnosis," and "eeg," while a typical ct technologist is skilled in "ct," "arrt," "tomography," and "ct scan."
Ct technologists earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $63,056. Comparatively, diagnostic technicians have the highest earning potential in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $75,136.Most ct technologists achieve a similar degree level compared to diagnostic technicians. For example, they're 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Diagnostic technician vs. Pet/ct technologist
Types of diagnostic technician
Updated January 8, 2025
