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The differences between med technicians and medical assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a med technician has an average salary of $44,523, which is higher than the $34,900 average annual salary of a medical assistant.
The top three skills for a med technician include patients, med-tech and cleanliness. The most important skills for a medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and patient care.
| Med Technician | Medical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $44,523 | $34,900 |
| Hourly rate | $21.41 | $16.78 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 141,154 | 189,915 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Associate Degree, 24% |
| Average age | 38 | 37 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
Typically working in hospitals or private clinics, a med technician specializes in collecting blood or bodily fluids and analyzing them through laboratory tests. The results of these tests will be a vital factor in diagnosing a patient's condition and what treatment a physician should give. Moreover, a med technician is also responsible for producing accurate reports, reviewing data, coordinating with physicians and other health care workers, maintaining a clean and sanitized work environment, and adhering to the company's safety policies and standards.
Medical assistants provide support to medical practitioners in both administrative and clerical tasks. They keep and update the patient's medical records, administer medicines under the supervision of a physician, assist during medical examinations, prepare medical samples for laboratory testing, manage the schedule of appointments, and assist the patients with their bills and in filling out needed forms, such as insurance-related documents. Medical assistants should have good communication skills and analytical skills, be organized, and be flexible. They should also have knowledge of how to operate some medical equipment such as x-ray machines.
Med technicians and medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Med Technician | Medical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $44,523 | $34,900 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $63,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital of Michigan | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a med technician and a medical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Med Technician | Medical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Associate Degree, 24% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between med technicians' and medical assistants' demographics:
| Med Technician | Medical Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8% | Male, 10.4% Female, 89.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.1% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 25.7% Asian, 8.8% White, 49.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |