First assistant vs certified medical technician

The differences between first assistants and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a first assistant has an average salary of $52,444, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a first assistant include patients, patient care and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

First assistant vs certified medical technician overview

	First Assistant	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$52,444	$38,859
Hourly rate	$25.21	$18.68
Growth rate	6%	5%
Number of jobs	3,202	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	43	44
Years of experience	-	12

What does a first assistant do?

First assistants to surgeons are in charge of assisting surgeons in the smooth execution of the operation's procedure and completion. They are the ones who will prepare the patient for surgeries, hand surgeons the needed tools, hold incisions open so that surgeons can easily perform the operation, transport patients to their rooms, and maintain the cleanliness of the operating room. They must also be able to withstand long hours of standing to complete surgical operations and agility to rush in case of emergencies.

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.

First assistant vs certified medical technician salary

First assistants and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	First Assistant	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$52,444	$38,859
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $73,000	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 first assistant and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a first assistant and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	First Assistant	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Connecticut

First assistant vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between first assistants' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	First Assistant	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	43	44
Gender ratio	Male, 44.5% Female, 55.5%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 9.4% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	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	10%	8%

Differences between first assistant and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

First assistant example responsibilities.

Teach patients and family members how to manage their post operative home care needs, self-administration of medication and rehabilitation
Execute and monitor strategic merchandising plans to achieve revenue objectives and reduce expenditures while ensuring payroll remains within budget.
Obtain health history via phone prior to surgery and triage patients upon arrival to the ASC.
Insert Foley catheters and intravenous catheter, if need.
Assist in orthopedics, plastics, ENT, urology, gynecology and ortho-neuro cases.
Provide preventative maintenance ensuring vessel's compliance with USCG regulations, inspections, and certificates.

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.

First assistant vs certified medical technician skills

Common first assistant skills

Patients, 24%
Patient Care, 16%
Surgical Procedures, 11%
Visualization, 6%
Suturing, 4%
CPR, 4%

Common certified medical technician skills

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

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First Assistant
First Assistant vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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