Heavy equipment operator vs certified medical technician

The differences between heavy equipment operators 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 heavy equipment operator, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a heavy equipment operator has an average salary of $39,822, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a heavy equipment operator include loaders, backhoe and CDL. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Heavy equipment operator vs certified medical technician overview

	Heavy Equipment Operator	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$39,822	$38,859
Hourly rate	$19.15	$18.68
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	47,261	164,424
Job satisfaction	4.6	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	45	44
Years of experience	4	12

What does a heavy equipment operator do?

Heavy equipment operators are skilled workers who are trained to handle heavy equipment. They are usually in the construction industry. Some of the equipment they operate are forklifts, bulldozers, dump trucks, backhoes, excavation machines, and mixer trucks. Heavy equipment operators are knowledgeable about the ins and outs of their equipment and are expected to be able to do basic repair and maintenance. They should also be able to recommend more complex repairs and maintenance work needed. Heavy equipment operators must adhere to health and safety protocols at all times.

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.

Heavy equipment operator vs certified medical technician salary

Heavy equipment operators and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Heavy Equipment Operator	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$39,822	$38,859
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $57,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Trenton, NJ	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Alaska
Best paying company	Moody's	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Energy	Health Care

Differences between heavy equipment operator and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a heavy equipment operator and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Heavy Equipment Operator	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Business	Nursing
Most common college	-	University of Connecticut

Heavy equipment operator vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between heavy equipment operators' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Heavy Equipment Operator	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	45	44
Gender ratio	Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 0.9% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9%	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	2%	8%

Differences between heavy equipment operator and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Heavy equipment operator example responsibilities.

Manage and cross-train subordinates in several job-relate tasks while promoting leadership.
Operate trucks and equipment such as backhoe, dump trucks, front-end loader, hydraulic excavator, skid steers and bulldozers.
Operate heavy equipment including, but limit to, backhoe, excavators, bobcats, forklifts, trucks and wheel loaders.
Operate equipment used for construction purposes such as tankers, cranes, bulldozers, loaders, compost mixers and excavators.
Put down mulch cut grass, plant and dig up.
Work with asphalt, cut down trees, and dig trenches.

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.

Heavy equipment operator vs certified medical technician skills

Common heavy equipment operator skills

Loaders, 9%
Backhoe, 6%
CDL, 6%
Asphalt, 5%
Safety Regulations, 5%
Dump Truck, 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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Heavy Equipment Operator vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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