Emergency room technician vs certified medical technician

The differences between emergency room technicians and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $35,967 average annual salary of an emergency room technician.

The top three skills for an emergency room technician include patients, EMT and BLS. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Emergency room technician vs certified medical technician overview

	Emergency Room Technician	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$35,967	$38,859
Hourly rate	$17.29	$18.68
Growth rate	7%	5%
Number of jobs	129,444	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 37%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	36	44
Years of experience	-	12

What does an emergency room technician do?

An Emergency Room Technician works in emergency departments dealing with patients who suffer from medical emergencies. They also assist with transporting patients into and out of the department for different medical tests.

What does a certified medical technician do?

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.

Emergency room technician vs certified medical technician salary

Emergency room technicians and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Emergency Room Technician	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$35,967	$38,859
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $45,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between emergency room technician and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between an emergency room technician and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Emergency Room Technician	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 37%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	-	University of Connecticut

Emergency room technician vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between emergency room technicians' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Emergency Room Technician	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	36	44
Gender ratio	Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	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	8%	8%

Differences between emergency room technician and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Emergency room technician example responsibilities.

Perform CPR and other emergency care as directed (O2therapy, EKG monitoring, use of other specialize medical equipment).
Ensure required brochures and pamphlets of HIPPA are available to patients in all clinics.
Transport patients from ER to various areas of the hospital such as radiology, oncology, or ICU.
Demonstrate compassion and sensitivity to patients and family.
Perform and interpret all electrocardiograms (ECG's) on cardiac patients.
Assist orthopedic MD and fellows with traction pins, casting, splinting and amputations.

Certified medical technician example responsibilities.

Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.

Emergency room technician vs certified medical technician skills

Common emergency room technician skills

Patients, 23%
EMT, 9%
BLS, 7%
Emergency Room, 6%
CPR, 6%
Phlebotomy, 6%

Common certified medical technician skills

Patients, 17%
Vital Signs, 12%
CPR, 8%
Administer Medications, 7%
Resident Care, 6%
HIPAA, 6%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Emergency Room Technician
Emergency Room Technician vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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