Post job

Echo technician vs cardiology technician

The differences between echo technicians and cardiology technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an echo technician and a cardiology technician. Additionally, an echo technician has an average salary of $75,952, which is higher than the $43,580 average annual salary of a cardiology technician.

The top three skills for an echo technician include patients, BLS and echocardiography. The most important skills for a cardiology technician are patients, patient care, and arrhythmia.

Echo technician vs cardiology technician overview

Echo TechnicianCardiology Technician
Yearly salary$75,952$43,580
Hourly rate$36.52$20.95
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs14,52257,811
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

What does an echo technician do?

An echo technician is responsible for operating specialized equipment to develop ultrasound images of patients' hearts, diagnosing possible illnesses, and monitoring their conditions. Echo technicians carefully explain the process to the patients, assist the physicians in data interpretation, and ensuring that the image document was stored and developed properly for reference. They also inspect the machine and equipment's efficiency for operations and immediately call for repairs for any defects and malfunctions that may cause inaccuracies in the results.

What does a cardiology technician do?

Cardiology Technicians are responsible for assisting physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases by conducting diagnostic testing, managing equipment, and recording results. Their duties include registering patients, maintaining a patient log, explaining testing and equipment procedures, assisting the patient in the physical examination, and conducting echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, and stress tests. They are also involved in operating physiologic monitors, monitoring instrument readings, conducting pulmonary tests, managing laboratory records, submitting reports, adjusting and cleaning equipment, and maintaining inventory levels. Cardiology Technicians also perform preventive maintenance, handle charge slips, and ensure work complies with professional standards and regulations.

Echo technician vs cardiology technician salary

Echo technicians and cardiology technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Echo TechnicianCardiology Technician
Average salary$75,952$43,580
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $117,000Between $30,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CitySpringfield, OREureka, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyUniversity of Maryland Medical SystemColumbia University in the City of New York
Best paying industryHealth CareEducation

Differences between echo technician and cardiology technician education

There are a few differences between an echo technician and a cardiology technician in terms of educational background:

Echo TechnicianCardiology Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityEmory University

Echo technician vs cardiology technician demographics

Here are the differences between echo technicians' and cardiology technicians' demographics:

Echo TechnicianCardiology Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 32.4% Female, 67.6%Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between echo technician and cardiology technician duties and responsibilities

Echo technician example responsibilities.

  • Assist with placement and manage intra-aortic balloon pumps.
  • Perform cardiac defibrillation, CPR, and initiate invasive procedures on patients in cardiac arrest.
  • Utilize 2D , 3D, m-mode, and color Doppler.
  • Perform EKG's and treadmill stress testing.
  • Perform stress echo's, dobutamine stress echo's and bubble studies.
  • Assist physician with echo stress tests as well as treadmill only studies.
  • Show more

Cardiology technician example responsibilities.

  • Assist with placement and manage intra-aortic balloon pumps.
  • Perform stress testing, holter monitoring, and pulmonary function testing.
  • Prepare schedules for the next day, prepare patient charts for appointments using EMR system.
  • Attend all training including, CPR and arrythmia course and staff meetings.
  • Administer stress testing, pulmonary function testing, ECG's, pacemaker and AICD testing and general patient management.
  • Conduct thousands of ECG's, plus Holter monitoring, signal average ECG's, computer editing of ECG reports.
  • Show more

Echo technician vs cardiology technician skills

Common echo technician skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • BLS, 10%
  • Echocardiography, 10%
  • Echocardiogram, 9%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Cardiology, 6%
Common cardiology technician skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Arrhythmia, 5%
  • CPR, 4%
  • ECG, 4%
  • Treadmill, 4%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs