Post job

Health educator vs certified medical technician

The differences between health educators and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a health educator, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a health educator has an average salary of $42,570, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a health educator include public health, patients and community health. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Health educator vs certified medical technician overview

Health EducatorCertified Medical Technician
Yearly salary$42,570$38,859
Hourly rate$20.47$18.68
Growth rate12%5%
Number of jobs61,832164,424
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4344
Years of experience412

What does a health educator do?

A health educator is responsible for promoting a healthy lifestyle and wellness by developing programs and practices to improve an individual's physical, emotional, and mental condition, recommending a various approach to deal with stress and anxiety, and other situations affecting the clients' behaviors. Health educators record the clients' progress, educate them about healthy strategies and approaches, and coordinate with other health specialists and medical professionals on disseminating health information. A health educator must have excellent communication skills, especially during public speaking and seminars for health education programs.

What does a certified medical technician do?

Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.

Health educator vs certified medical technician salary

Health educators and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health EducatorCertified Medical Technician
Average salary$42,570$38,859
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $58,000Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCDenton, TX
Highest paying stateOregonAlaska
Best paying companyThe New York FoundlingFavorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between health educator and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a health educator and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

Health EducatorCertified Medical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorHealth EducationNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Connecticut

Health educator vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between health educators' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

Health EducatorCertified Medical Technician
Average age4344
Gender ratioMale, 22.6% Female, 77.4%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 6.8% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage21%8%

Differences between health educator and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Health educator example responsibilities.

  • Manage day-to-day evolving aspects of the HHS Zika virus response.
  • Engage with members' telephonically, using motivational interviewing techniques to assist members' in achieving their health goals.
  • Work with an interdisciplinary staff within HHS and across other federal agencies.
  • Support of Norton patients by telephone providing information for community resources for new mothers and providing medical counseling concerning their prenatal/postnatal condition
  • Recertify in CPR and first aid training
  • Enroll medical entities to receive NYC DOHMH quarterly report/semi-annual report profiling epidemic of HIV/AIDS in NYC.
  • Show more

Certified medical technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
  • Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
  • Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
  • Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
  • Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
  • Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.
  • Show more

Health educator vs certified medical technician skills

Common health educator skills
  • Public Health, 12%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Community Health, 8%
  • Health Promotion, 6%
  • Health Education Programs, 3%
  • Diabetes, 3%
Common certified medical technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Administer Medications, 7%
  • Resident Care, 6%
  • HIPAA, 6%

Browse community and social services jobs