Health information coder vs certified medical technician

The differences between health information coders and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a health information coder and a certified medical technician. Additionally, a health information coder has an average salary of $54,353, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a health information coder include medical terminology, ICD-10-CM and CPC. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Health information coder vs certified medical technician overview

	Health Information Coder	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$54,353	$38,859
Hourly rate	$26.13	$18.68
Growth rate	11%	5%
Number of jobs	112,238	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	45	44
Years of experience	12	12

What does a health information coder do?

A health information coder is responsible for translating the reports of physicians into beneficial medical codes. Health information coders make sure that all important information is appropriately coded for accuracy and consistency. The coders read the medical chart of a patient and analyze it and identify patient diagnoses and medical procedures. They categorize the diagnoses and the necessary procedures based on a national classification system. Also, they assign particular alphanumeric or numeric code to each procedure or diagnosis.

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 information coder vs certified medical technician salary

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

	Health Information Coder	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$54,353	$38,859
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $78,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between health information coder and certified medical technician education

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

	Health Information Coder	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Health Care Administration	Nursing
Most common college	Georgetown University	University of Connecticut

Health information coder vs certified medical technician demographics

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

	Health Information Coder	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	45	44
Gender ratio	Male, 12.0% Female, 88.0%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 59.3% 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 Percentage	9%	8%

Differences between health information coder and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Health information coder example responsibilities.

Create documentation education classes to general surgery residents, increasing the leveling of reporting which lead to increase revenues.
Provide clerical services in registering patients and guests in ambulatory surgery facility.
Train staff on the HIPAA regulations.
Assist in instructing students for exam preparation for the CPC exam.
Maintain establish department policies and procedures, objectives, QA program, HIPAA compliance, environmental and infection control standards.
Code charts (Inpatient/Outpatient/Observation) according to EHR records to ensure all charges are accurately capture; hydration/infusion/EM levels & procedures.

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.

Health information coder vs certified medical technician skills

Common health information coder skills

Medical Terminology, 11%
ICD-10-CM, 9%
CPC, 9%
Patients, 7%
Quality Standards, 6%
AHIMA, 6%

Common certified medical technician skills

Patients, 17%
Vital Signs, 12%
CPR, 8%
Administer Medications, 7%
Resident Care, 6%
HIPAA, 6%

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Health Information Coder vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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