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Hospital technician vs monitor technician

The differences between hospital technicians and monitor 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 hospital technician, becoming a monitor technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a monitor technician has an average salary of $35,460, which is higher than the $34,666 average annual salary of a hospital technician.

The top three skills for a hospital technician include patients, customer service and hospital policies. The most important skills for a monitor technician are patients, EKG, and BLS.

Hospital technician vs monitor technician overview

Hospital TechnicianMonitor Technician
Yearly salary$34,666$35,460
Hourly rate$16.67$17.05
Growth rate11%10%
Number of jobs78,65756,963
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age4545
Years of experience122

What does a hospital technician do?

A hospital technician assists the doctors and nurses in a clinic or hospital. They assist healthcare administrators in providing quality health care to patients, which may include providing prescriptions to patients. They are expected to keep patient records, and they may also be called upon to operate some laboratory equipment. This position requires basic knowledge of how to operate hospital equipment.

What does a monitor technician do?

A monitor technician works in hospitals and other health care centers that provide treatment relating to heart health. They are also known as cardiac monitor technicians, who assist physicians and nurses with diagnosing and interpreting conditions related to the heart through several methods of monitoring and testing. Most of their work includes using machines and other medical technology in tracking patients' heart performance and check for any possible abnormalities. They monitor irregular heartbeats, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest. They also use this technology to perform various tests on the heart but typically do not provide treatment.

Hospital technician vs monitor technician salary

Hospital technicians and monitor technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Hospital TechnicianMonitor Technician
Average salary$34,666$35,460
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $45,000Between $28,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityJersey City, NJMedford, OR
Highest paying stateConnecticutUtah
Best paying companyBaystate HealthMLK Community Healthcare
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between hospital technician and monitor technician education

There are a few differences between a hospital technician and a monitor technician in terms of educational background:

Hospital TechnicianMonitor Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorBusinessNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaDuke University

Hospital technician vs monitor technician demographics

Here are the differences between hospital technicians' and monitor technicians' demographics:

Hospital TechnicianMonitor Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 32.1% Female, 67.9%Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 8.0% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage9%8%

Differences between hospital technician and monitor technician duties and responsibilities

Hospital technician example responsibilities.

  • Ensure proper transfer and disposition of medical record to the VA in CHCS are accomplished according to establish policies and procedures.
  • Verify patient demographics are correct in CHCS.
  • Book all medical appointments within HIPPA guidelines.
  • Communicate hospital rules and regulations to patients, relate availability of benefits provide to patients by various social service programs.
  • Interview patients in ER clinics and inpatient areas to obtain identify and financial information, verify patient eligibility for hospital service.
  • Construct telephone consults and referrals and input data into AHLTA.
  • Show more

Monitor technician example responsibilities.

  • Assist with placement and manage intra-aortic balloon pumps.
  • Operate electrocardiogram (EKG), cardiac treadmill testing equipment and record data.
  • Administer care to patients in a LATC setting, support with ambulation and rehabilitation procedure.
  • Ensure telemetry boxes are returned from the floors when patients are discharge or transfer to ICU.
  • Work in a very large hospital system doing EEG's on premature infants to geriatric patients.
  • Monitor heart rhythm patterns, record and report normal and abnormal heart rhythm patterns and ECG interval measurements utilizing telemetry equipment.
  • Show more

Hospital technician vs monitor technician skills

Common hospital technician skills
  • Patients, 42%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Hospital Policies, 5%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Direct Patient Care, 5%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
Common monitor technician skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • EKG, 12%
  • BLS, 8%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • Cardiac Rhythms, 6%
  • Arrhythmia, 4%

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