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The differences between ekg technicians and cardiac 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 ekg technician and a cardiac technician. Additionally, a cardiac technician has an average salary of $39,698, which is higher than the $35,160 average annual salary of an ekg technician.
The top three skills for an ekg technician include patients, BLS and patient care. The most important skills for a cardiac technician are patients, BLS, and CPR.
| EKG Technician | Cardiac Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $35,160 | $39,698 |
| Hourly rate | $16.90 | $19.09 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 52,679 | 50,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An EKG technician is responsible for conducting laboratory tests using advanced equipment and machines to diagnose and identify patients' conditions with cardiovascular problems. EKG technicians must have excellent knowledge of the process to discuss the procedures and respond to the patients' inquiries and concerns accurately. They help the doctors in diagnosing patients and developing treatment plans upon the interpretation of the results. An EKG technician inspects the stability and efficiency of the equipment regularly to prevent delays and inconsistencies with the results.
Cardiac or cardiovascular technicians are healthcare professionals who participate in saving the lives of patients with a heart attack by helping physicians diagnose and treat cardiac and peripheral vascular ailments. These technicians are experts in conducting electrocardiogram (ECG) tests that measure the electrical activity of a patient's heart. They prepare patients and position them for the medical procedure while setting up the necessary diagnosing and monitoring equipment. Cardiac technicians must also assist cardiovascular surgeons in interpreting the reports for their patients.
Ekg technicians and cardiac technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| EKG Technician | Cardiac Technician | |
| Average salary | $35,160 | $39,698 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $43,000 | Between $31,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Springfield, OR | Fargo, ND |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | California |
| Best paying company | UC Merced | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an ekg technician and a cardiac technician in terms of educational background:
| EKG Technician | Cardiac Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | Emory University | Emory University |
Here are the differences between ekg technicians' and cardiac technicians' demographics:
| EKG Technician | Cardiac Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.5% Female, 76.5% | Male, 34.4% Female, 65.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |