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Health care technician vs emergency room technician

The differences between health care technicians and emergency room 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 $35,967 average annual salary of an emergency room technician.

The top three skills for a health care technician include patients, CPR and plant health. The most important skills for an emergency room technician are patients, EMT, and BLS.

Health care technician vs emergency room technician overview

Health Care TechnicianEmergency Room Technician
Yearly salary$36,553$35,967
Hourly rate$17.57$17.29
Growth rate9%7%
Number of jobs173,122129,444
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Average age3436
Years of experience--

What does a health care technician do?

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.

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.

Health care technician vs emergency room technician salary

Health care technicians and emergency room technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health Care TechnicianEmergency Room Technician
Average salary$36,553$35,967
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $49,000Between $28,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CityChelmsford, MA-
Highest paying stateMassachusetts-
Best paying companyUniversity of California, Berkeley-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between health care technician and emergency room technician education

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

Health Care TechnicianEmergency Room Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Pennsylvania-

Health care technician vs emergency room technician demographics

Here are the differences between health care technicians' and emergency room technicians' demographics:

Health Care TechnicianEmergency Room Technician
Average age3436
Gender ratioMale, 37.8% Female, 62.2%Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.5% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage15%8%

Differences between health care technician and emergency room technician duties and responsibilities

Health care technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage ventilator settings, suction tracheostomy, tube-feeding assistance.
  • Maintain and operate delivery vehicle need to safely transport necessary equipment to patients on a regularly schedule basis.
  • Observe, report and document pertinent information about patients per policy, to include communication with direct supervisor and treatment team.
  • Field incoming communications, perform administrative duties such as chart upkeep and telemetry monitoring with close attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Utilize interviewing skills in order to fill out patient's care programs/interests and organized/file patient records manually and with EMR.
  • Work in-home, providing compassionate care for older adults with Alzheimer's disease.
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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.
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Health care technician vs emergency room technician skills

Common health care technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • CPR, 13%
  • Plant Health, 12%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
  • Care Tech, 5%
Common emergency room technician skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • EMT, 9%
  • BLS, 7%
  • Emergency Room, 6%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Phlebotomy, 6%

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