Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between health care technicians and behavioral health technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a health care technician has an average salary of $36,553, which is higher than the $34,611 average annual salary of a behavioral health technician.
The top three skills for a health care technician include patients, CPR and plant health. The most important skills for a behavioral health technician are patients, behavioral health, and crisis intervention.
| Health Care Technician | Behavioral Health Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $36,553 | $34,611 |
| Hourly rate | $17.57 | $16.64 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 173,122 | 99,503 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 34 | 34 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A health care technician works with laboratory equipment used for the analysis of specimens for diagnosis. The health care technician's role is an integral part of a health care facility as all proper diagnosis stems from accurate laboratory results. Included with a healthcare technician's tasks is to take vital signs, collect samples, and work closely with doctors during patient consultations and check-ups. The health care technician typically works inside a laboratory and is expected to keep the area clean and all equipment is all in working order.
A behavioral health technician participates in treating patients with behavioral problems caused by mental health issues. They are primarily responsible for monitoring the behavior of the patient, following the guidelines of treatment from a mental health professional, and regularly reporting any progress or problems. Moreover, a behavioral health technician must also carry out administrative tasks, which include producing reports and assessments, answering inquiries and correspondence, maintaining schedules, and keeping records. Furthermore, it is essential to give emotional support to a patient, providing them with a safe and healthy environment at all times.
Health care technicians and behavioral health technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Health Care Technician | Behavioral Health Technician | |
| Average salary | $36,553 | $34,611 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $49,000 | Between $25,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chelmsford, MA | Rochester, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Government | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a health care technician and a behavioral health technician in terms of educational background:
| Health Care Technician | Behavioral Health Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Johns Hopkins University |
Here are the differences between health care technicians' and behavioral health technicians' demographics:
| Health Care Technician | Behavioral Health Technician | |
| Average age | 34 | 34 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2% | Male, 36.4% Female, 63.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 15% |