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The differences between health care technicians and med technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a med technician has an average salary of $44,523, which is higher than the $36,553 average annual salary of a health care technician.
The top three skills for a health care technician include patients, CPR and plant health. The most important skills for a med technician are patients, med-tech, and cleanliness.
| Health Care Technician | Med Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $36,553 | $44,523 |
| Hourly rate | $17.57 | $21.41 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 173,122 | 141,154 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 34 | 38 |
| 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.
Typically working in hospitals or private clinics, a med technician specializes in collecting blood or bodily fluids and analyzing them through laboratory tests. The results of these tests will be a vital factor in diagnosing a patient's condition and what treatment a physician should give. Moreover, a med technician is also responsible for producing accurate reports, reviewing data, coordinating with physicians and other health care workers, maintaining a clean and sanitized work environment, and adhering to the company's safety policies and standards.
Health care technicians and med technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Health Care Technician | Med Technician | |
| Average salary | $36,553 | $44,523 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $49,000 | Between $31,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chelmsford, MA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Children's Hospital of Michigan |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a health care technician and a med technician in terms of educational background:
| Health Care Technician | Med Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | - |
Here are the differences between health care technicians' and med technicians' demographics:
| Health Care Technician | Med Technician | |
| Average age | 34 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2% | Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8% |
| 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, 8.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.1% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 5% |