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The differences between material handler/forklift 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 material handler/forklift operator, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $36,453 average annual salary of a material handler/forklift operator.
The top three skills for a material handler/forklift operator include pallets, safety procedures and electric pallet jack. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $36,453 | $38,859 |
| Hourly rate | $17.53 | $18.68 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 168,379 | 164,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A material handler and forklift operator is responsible for transporting and storing various kinds of goods, even including fragile or hazardous shipments. The duties and location will vary depending on the line of work or industry involved. However, most of the tasks will require efficiency in operating machinery, communication skills, and great attention to detail. Furthermore, a material handler and forklift operator must monitor products and keep an accurate record of overall activities, transport materials within allotted time and schedule, and maintain communication and coordination with co-workers and supervisors.
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.
Material handler/forklift operators and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average salary | $36,453 | $38,859 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $45,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lakeville, MN | Denton, TX |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Nestlé | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a material handler/forklift operator and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Business | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between material handler/forklift operators' and certified medical technicians' demographics:
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 16.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 4% | 8% |