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The differences between health information technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a health information technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a technician has an average salary of $38,045, which is higher than the $34,604 average annual salary of a health information technician.
The top three skills for a health information technician include patients, medical terminology and customer service. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Health Information Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $34,604 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $16.64 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 120,786 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A health information technician is primarily responsible for managing and handling patient information, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality. They coordinate with various health care workers to gather patient data, laboratory results, test findings, and medical histories, encoding them in clinical databases in a timely and efficient manner. They must analyze every information to detect any inconsistencies, performing corrective measures right away. Furthermore, as a health information technician, it is essential to utilize particular software and systems when processing information, all while adhering to the hospital's policies and regulations.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Health information technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Health Information Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $34,604 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $45,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairbanks, AK | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Stifel Financial | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Government | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a health information technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Health Information Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Health Care Administration | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | - |
Here are the differences between health information technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Health Information Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.5% Female, 83.5% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 2% |