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Health care technician vs monitor technician

The differences between health care technicians and monitor 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 $35,460 average annual salary of a monitor technician.

The top three skills for a health care technician include patients, CPR and plant health. The most important skills for a monitor technician are patients, EKG, and BLS.

Health care technician vs monitor technician overview

Health Care TechnicianMonitor Technician
Yearly salary$36,553$35,460
Hourly rate$17.57$17.05
Growth rate9%10%
Number of jobs173,12256,963
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age3445
Years of experience-2

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 a monitor technician do?

A monitor technician works in hospitals and other health care centers that provide treatment relating to heart health. They are also known as cardiac monitor technicians, who assist physicians and nurses with diagnosing and interpreting conditions related to the heart through several methods of monitoring and testing. Most of their work includes using machines and other medical technology in tracking patients' heart performance and check for any possible abnormalities. They monitor irregular heartbeats, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest. They also use this technology to perform various tests on the heart but typically do not provide treatment.

Health care technician vs monitor technician salary

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

Health Care TechnicianMonitor Technician
Average salary$36,553$35,460
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $49,000Between $28,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityChelmsford, MAMedford, OR
Highest paying stateMassachusettsUtah
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyMLK Community Healthcare
Best paying industryGovernmentHealth Care

Differences between health care technician and monitor technician education

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

Health Care TechnicianMonitor Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaDuke University

Health care technician vs monitor technician demographics

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

Health Care TechnicianMonitor Technician
Average age3445
Gender ratioMale, 37.8% Female, 62.2%Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3%
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, 10.6% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage15%8%

Differences between health care technician and monitor 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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Monitor technician example responsibilities.

  • Assist with placement and manage intra-aortic balloon pumps.
  • Operate electrocardiogram (EKG), cardiac treadmill testing equipment and record data.
  • Administer care to patients in a LATC setting, support with ambulation and rehabilitation procedure.
  • Ensure telemetry boxes are returned from the floors when patients are discharge or transfer to ICU.
  • Work in a very large hospital system doing EEG's on premature infants to geriatric patients.
  • Monitor heart rhythm patterns, record and report normal and abnormal heart rhythm patterns and ECG interval measurements utilizing telemetry equipment.
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Health care technician vs monitor technician skills

Common health care technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • CPR, 13%
  • Plant Health, 12%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
  • Care Tech, 5%
Common monitor technician skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • EKG, 12%
  • BLS, 8%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • Cardiac Rhythms, 6%
  • Arrhythmia, 4%

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