Hospital technician vs patient care technician

The differences between hospital technicians and patient care technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a hospital technician has an average salary of $34,666, which is higher than the $32,806 average annual salary of a patient care technician.

The top three skills for a hospital technician include patients, customer service and hospital policies. The most important skills for a patient care technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.

Hospital technician vs patient care technician overview

	Hospital Technician	Patient Care Technician
Yearly salary	$34,666	$32,806
Hourly rate	$16.67	$15.77
Growth rate	11%	9%
Number of jobs	78,657	167,520
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Average age	45	34
Years of experience	12	-

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 patient care technician do?

Patient care technicians are medical workers who work in clinics, hospitals, or other medical facilities under the supervision of doctors or other health professionals. They provide assistance to health professionals and patients. They help patients with mobility concerns get into hospital beds, bathrooms, wheelchairs, and more. They also help patients with their physical therapy sessions and other physical needs. They handle patient concerns and communicate these to attending physicians. They may be assigned to administer basic medical procedures such as checking vital signs and collecting samples from patients, among others.

Hospital technician vs patient care technician salary

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

	Hospital Technician	Patient Care Technician
Average salary	$34,666	$32,806
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $45,000	Between $24,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	Jersey City, NJ	Rochester, NH
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Vermont
Best paying company	Baystate Health	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between hospital technician and patient care technician education

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

	Hospital Technician	Patient Care Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Most common major	Business	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Emory University

Hospital technician vs patient care technician demographics

Here are the differences between hospital technicians' and patient care technicians' demographics:

	Hospital Technician	Patient Care Technician
Average age	45	34
Gender ratio	Male, 32.1% Female, 67.9%	Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0%
Race ratio	Black 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, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	9%	15%

Differences between hospital technician and patient care 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.

Patient care technician example responsibilities.

Manage care and prepare medical records, transcription and supply orders.
Manage daily care of high acuity patients with neurological trauma/disorders and post-surgery.
Qualify to perform patient care responsibilities on catheter patients.
Transport patients using wheelchairs and stretchers and assist patients to ambulate safely.
Assist with transferring patients in and out of wheelchairs, recliners, and stretchers.
Apply protective restraints safely and appropriately, assist in the admission, discharge and transfer of patients as needed.

Hospital technician vs patient care technician skills

Common hospital technician skills

Patients, 42%
Customer Service, 9%
Hospital Policies, 5%
CPR, 5%
Direct Patient Care, 5%
Vital Signs, 4%

Common patient care technician skills

Patients, 24%
Vital Signs, 9%
Phlebotomy, 7%
CPR, 6%
Direct Patient Care, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Hospital Technician
Hospital Technician vs Patient Care Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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