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The differences between health care technicians and nurse 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 $33,005 average annual salary of a nurse technician.
The top three skills for a health care technician include patients, CPR and plant health. The most important skills for a nurse technician are patients, CPR, and vital signs.
| Health Care Technician | Nurse Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $36,553 | $33,005 |
| Hourly rate | $17.57 | $15.87 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 173,122 | 195,553 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 34 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 3 |
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.
Nurse technicians, also known as nursing aides, assistants, or attendants, usually work in clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes. Primarily, they help a registered nurse by providing essential mobility, care, and support to patients. Everyday routine duties include maintaining patients' hygiene and moving them using wheelchairs or stretchers around the facility for their meals, treatment, events, and other activities. They do tasks that help improve a patient's comfort level and become their caregivers in the long run. This job requires a high school diploma along with the completed certified nursing assistant (CNA) program.
Health care technicians and nurse technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Health Care Technician | Nurse Technician | |
| Average salary | $36,553 | $33,005 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $49,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chelmsford, MA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Oregon |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Carondelet High School |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a health care technician and a nurse technician in terms of educational background:
| Health Care Technician | Nurse Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | - |
Here are the differences between health care technicians' and nurse technicians' demographics:
| Health Care Technician | Nurse Technician | |
| Average age | 34 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2% | Male, 16.9% Female, 83.1% |
| 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, 11.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 8.0% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 7% |