Foster care worker vs certified medical technician

The differences between foster care workers and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a foster care worker, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a foster care worker has an average salary of $46,037, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a foster care worker include foster care, social work and child abuse. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Foster care worker vs certified medical technician overview

	Foster Care Worker	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$46,037	$38,859
Hourly rate	$22.13	$18.68
Growth rate	9%	5%
Number of jobs	151,625	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	42	44
Years of experience	4	12

What does a foster care worker do?

A Foster Care Worker helps improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families as well as increases the family's well-being and the academic functioning of children. They counsel families about issues regarding their child's care and develop healthy living situations.

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.

Foster care worker vs certified medical technician salary

Foster care workers and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Foster Care Worker	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$46,037	$38,859
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $65,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Baltimore, MD	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Alaska
Best paying company	Riverview Health	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Construction	Health Care

Differences between foster care worker and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a foster care worker and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Foster Care Worker	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Social Work	Nursing
Most common college	Boston University	University of Connecticut

Foster care worker vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between foster care workers' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Foster Care Worker	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	42	44
Gender ratio	Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	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 foster care worker and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Foster care worker example responsibilities.

Conduct unscheduled regular school visits to attain records of attendance, suspensions, IEP, and treatment plans.
Manage to write progress note, complete FASP's and input information on PROMIS on a timely manner.
Manage caseload of 18 23 children and adolescents in DSS custody due to abuse, neglect and criminal activity.
Manage a caseload of families with children in DSS custody awaiting return home to family of origin base upon progress make.
Lead presentation and training sessions to community and inter-agency groups.
Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.

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.

Foster care worker vs certified medical technician skills

Common foster care worker skills

Foster Care, 26%
Social Work, 19%
Child Abuse, 7%
Social Services, 6%
Foster Children, 5%
Community Resources, 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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Community and Social Services Industry
Foster Care Worker
Foster Care Worker vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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