Health care technician vs patient care technician

The differences between health care technicians and patient care 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 $32,806 average annual salary of a patient care technician.

The top three skills for a health care technician include patients, CPR and plant health. The most important skills for a patient care technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.

Health care technician vs patient care technician overview

	Health Care Technician	Patient Care Technician
Yearly salary	$36,553	$32,806
Hourly rate	$17.57	$15.77
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	173,122	167,520
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Average age	34	34
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 a patient care technician do?

Patient care technicians are medical workers who work in clinics, hospitals, or other medical facilities under the supervision of doctors or other health professionals. They provide assistance to health professionals and patients. They help patients with mobility concerns get into hospital beds, bathrooms, wheelchairs, and more. They also help patients with their physical therapy sessions and other physical needs. They handle patient concerns and communicate these to attending physicians. They may be assigned to administer basic medical procedures such as checking vital signs and collecting samples from patients, among others.

Health care technician vs patient care technician salary

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

	Health Care Technician	Patient Care Technician
Average salary	$36,553	$32,806
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $49,000	Between $24,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	Chelmsford, MA	Rochester, NH
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	Vermont
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Best paying industry	Government	Health Care

Differences between health care technician and patient care technician education

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

	Health Care Technician	Patient Care Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Emory University

Health care technician vs patient care technician demographics

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

	Health Care Technician	Patient Care Technician
Average age	34	34
Gender ratio	Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2%	Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0%
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%

Differences between health care technician and patient care 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.

Patient care technician example responsibilities.

Manage care and prepare medical records, transcription and supply orders.
Manage daily care of high acuity patients with neurological trauma/disorders and post-surgery.
Qualify to perform patient care responsibilities on catheter patients.
Transport patients using wheelchairs and stretchers and assist patients to ambulate safely.
Assist with transferring patients in and out of wheelchairs, recliners, and stretchers.
Apply protective restraints safely and appropriately, assist in the admission, discharge and transfer of patients as needed.

Health care technician vs patient care technician skills

Common health care technician skills

Patients, 17%
CPR, 13%
Plant Health, 12%
Customer Service, 12%
Vital Signs, 5%
Care Tech, 5%

Common patient care technician skills

Patients, 24%
Vital Signs, 9%
Phlebotomy, 7%
CPR, 6%
Direct Patient Care, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Health Care Technician
Health Care Technician vs Patient Care Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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