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Health researcher vs certified medical technician

The differences between health researchers 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 researcher, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a health researcher has an average salary of $83,787, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a health researcher include health services, data collection and data analysis. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Health researcher vs certified medical technician overview

Health ResearcherCertified Medical Technician
Yearly salary$83,787$38,859
Hourly rate$40.28$18.68
Growth rate17%5%
Number of jobs53,504164,424
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4144
Years of experience412

What does a health researcher do?

A health researcher is responsible for analyzing materials and publications and develop efficient research methodologies to support the analysis within the health industry. Health researchers review the current health trends, identify risks that may put public health in jeopardy, and coordinating with medical health professionals for in-depth investigation of diseases. They also assist laboratory technicians in performing examinations according to the research findings, proposing treatment plans, and improving diagnosing methods. A health researcher may present the study with different institutions, including the government, and recommend ways to minimize public health risk.

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 researcher vs certified medical technician salary

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

Health ResearcherCertified Medical Technician
Average salary$83,787$38,859
Salary rangeBetween $57,000 And $122,000Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityNew Brunswick, NJDenton, TX
Highest paying stateNew JerseyAlaska
Best paying companyAppleFavorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industryGovernmentHealth Care

Differences between health researcher and certified medical technician education

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

Health ResearcherCertified Medical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorPsychologyNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Connecticut

Health researcher vs certified medical technician demographics

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

Health ResearcherCertified Medical Technician
Average age4144
Gender ratioMale, 32.4% Female, 67.6%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between health researcher and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Health researcher example responsibilities.

  • Lead Inovalon's team of biostatisticians and SAS programmers.
  • Manage database of test responses and conduct data analyses for NIH technical report.
  • Manage site assessment, initiation, monitoring, query resolution and site closure done by several CRO's and sponsors.
  • Create Linux shell scripts to automate common process which severely reduce manual work load and processing time for the entire lab.
  • Acquire and analyze clinical data (SAS programming).
  • Coordinate an FDA document retrieval system which decrease time and costs in filing new drug applications.
  • 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 researcher vs certified medical technician skills

Common health researcher skills
  • Health Services, 13%
  • Data Collection, 12%
  • Data Analysis, 10%
  • Research Findings, 8%
  • Health Economics, 6%
  • Health Insurance, 5%
Common certified medical technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Administer Medications, 7%
  • Resident Care, 6%
  • HIPAA, 6%

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