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Endoscopy technician vs sterile technician

The differences between endoscopy technicians and sterile 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 endoscopy technician and a sterile technician. Additionally, an endoscopy technician has an average salary of $37,154, which is higher than the $35,347 average annual salary of a sterile technician.

The top three skills for an endoscopy technician include patients, patient care and BLS. The most important skills for a sterile technician are patients, aseptic technique, and patient care.

Endoscopy technician vs sterile technician overview

Endoscopy TechnicianSterile Technician
Yearly salary$37,154$35,347
Hourly rate$17.86$16.99
Growth rate6%8%
Number of jobs35,68530,250
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%High School Diploma, 27%
Average age4343
Years of experience22

What does an endoscopy technician do?

An endoscopy technician is primarily in charge of assisting physicians and nurses during endoscopy preparations and procedures. Their responsibilities often include thoroughly sterilizing the equipment before every process, making necessary adjustments in adherence to the needs of cases, handling the endoscope, and monitoring the condition and vital signs of patients. An endoscopy technician is also responsible for assisting patients, helping them prepare for every procedure, and answering their inquiries as needed. Furthermore, there are also instances when an endoscopy technician may help in biopsies or polyp removal.

What does a sterile technician do?

In the medical industry, a sterile technician is in charge of cleaning and sterilizing surgical and medical tools and devices. They must also operate and organize equipment, monitor the inventory of supplies, maintain official records, coordinate with staff, transport supplies, and keep the cleanliness of different operating areas, decontaminating them to maintain a safe and healthy workflow. Furthermore, a sterile technician must set-up and prepare equipment for procedures, all while adhering to the facility's safety policies and regulations.

Endoscopy technician vs sterile technician salary

Endoscopy technicians and sterile technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Endoscopy TechnicianSterile Technician
Average salary$37,154$35,347
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $46,000Between $27,000 And $44,000
Highest paying CitySan Diego, CADaly City, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyBrigham and Women's HospitalZoetis
Best paying industryNon ProfitsPharmaceutical

Differences between endoscopy technician and sterile technician education

There are a few differences between an endoscopy technician and a sterile technician in terms of educational background:

Endoscopy TechnicianSterile Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%High School Diploma, 27%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianBusiness
Most common college-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Endoscopy technician vs sterile technician demographics

Here are the differences between endoscopy technicians' and sterile technicians' demographics:

Endoscopy TechnicianSterile Technician
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 28.4% Female, 71.6%Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 8.9% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 9.3% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between endoscopy technician and sterile technician duties and responsibilities

Endoscopy technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage set-up of endoscopic equipment and cleanliness of procedure room.
  • Involve vital signs, getting patient ready for surgery, clean and prep body area.
  • Set up rooms, clean instruments and maintain GI diagnostic equipment, ensuring equipment are sterilized between patients.
  • Maintain confidentiality of all pertinent patient care information to assure patients rights are protect.
  • Collect specimens from patients using standard medical procedures, and send specimens to designate laboratory.
  • Assist physicians and surgeons with endoscopy procedures, patient preparation, patient transportation, proficient with endoscopy equipment and maintenance.
  • Show more

Sterile technician example responsibilities.

  • Fill or prepare documentation assuring compliance with FDA, GMPIS, JIBIS, OSHA and other internal or external regulation.
  • Operate steam autoclaves for sterilizing instruments according to OSHA guidelines.
  • Provide great customer service to patients by delivering equipment need per nurse/physician request.
  • Experience in gas plasma, eto, steam sterilization.
  • Act as company leader of validation, instrumentation, PLC validation/control and FDA regulations.
  • Perform work assignments in all areas of SPD as well as numerous locations throughout the hospital.
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Endoscopy technician vs sterile technician skills

Common endoscopy technician skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Patient Care, 17%
  • BLS, 10%
  • GI, 6%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Surgery, 5%
Common sterile technician skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Aseptic Technique, 11%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Surgical Instruments, 10%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Instrument Trays, 5%

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