Medical clerk vs certified medical technician

The differences between medical clerks and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a medical clerk, 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 $32,439 average annual salary of a medical clerk.

The top three skills for a medical clerk include patients, medical terminology and data entry. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Medical clerk vs certified medical technician overview

	Medical Clerk	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$32,439	$38,859
Hourly rate	$15.60	$18.68
Growth rate	-8%	5%
Number of jobs	166,322	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 26%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	49	44
Years of experience	2	12

What does a medical clerk do?

A medical clerk works in the administrative area of a medical facility or hospital. The medical clerk collects all patient information and medical records. The clerk also does all the clinic or hospital paperwork and generates reports of all transactions that transpired in a day's work. The medical clerk also processes admission and discharge papers, medical charts, properly file and safeguard all patient records and secure them from unauthorized access. The medical clerk is expected to be highly organized, capable of handling pressure, and has good communication skills.

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.

Medical clerk vs certified medical technician salary

Medical clerks and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Clerk	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$32,439	$38,859
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $40,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	Minnesota	Alaska
Best paying company	Brinks Gilson	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Government	Health Care

Differences between medical clerk and certified medical technician education

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

	Medical Clerk	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 26%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Business	Nursing
Most common college	-	University of Connecticut

Medical clerk vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between medical clerks' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Medical Clerk	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	49	44
Gender ratio	Male, 15.5% Female, 84.5%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	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	9%	8%

Differences between medical clerk and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Medical clerk example responsibilities.

Evaluate all EOB's to insure accurate payment is received and when necessary will file appeals to achieve optimal payments.
Follow HIPPA patient confidentiality guidelines making patients or facility have filled proper forms to release records.
File results of laboratory tests, x-rays, EKG's, etc., in patients records.
Respond and resolve patient inquiries with compassion and patience.
Prepare request for EKG tests, eye examinations, audio and dental records.
Enter deficiencies into MediTech program.

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.

Medical clerk vs certified medical technician skills

Common medical clerk skills

Patients, 32%
Medical Terminology, 6%
Data Entry, 6%
Phone Calls, 5%
Patient Care, 4%
Telephone Calls, 3%

Common certified medical technician skills

Patients, 17%
Vital Signs, 12%
CPR, 8%
Administer Medications, 7%
Resident Care, 6%
HIPAA, 6%

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Medical Clerk
Medical Clerk vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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