Medical doctor vs certified medical technician

The differences between medical doctors 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 medical doctor, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a medical doctor has an average salary of $181,967, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a medical doctor include patients, patient care and internal medicine. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Medical doctor vs certified medical technician overview

	Medical Doctor	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$181,967	$38,859
Hourly rate	$87.48	$18.68
Growth rate	7%	5%
Number of jobs	60,642	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Doctoral Degree, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	48	44
Years of experience	4	12

What does a medical doctor do?

A Medical Doctor, also known as a physician, is a healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats patients from injuries and illnesses. As a Medical Doctor, your day-to-day duties will typically include assessing a patient's symptoms, prescribing and administering treatment to patients, and providing follow-up medical care to patients. You will be responsible for interpreting patients' laboratory results and referring them to other providers when needed. Also, you will need to work closely with other healthcare professionals and promote health education.

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 doctor vs certified medical technician salary

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

	Medical Doctor	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$181,967	$38,859
Salary range	Between $95,000 And $347,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Brownsville, TX	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Alaska
Best paying company	Pacific Medical Centers	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Transportation	Health Care

Differences between medical doctor and certified medical technician education

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

	Medical Doctor	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Doctoral Degree, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Medicine	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	University of Connecticut

Medical doctor vs certified medical technician demographics

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

	Medical Doctor	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	48	44
Gender ratio	Male, 46.9% Female, 53.1%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 19.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	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	13%	8%

Differences between medical doctor and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Medical doctor example responsibilities.

Partner with team to achieve overall well-being patients and contribute to successful department research accreditation.
Perform selection and interpretation of labs including EKG readings, diagnostic imaging, blood work, and urinalyses.
Batch to clearing house, upload files from insurance, data entry answer phones, collect payments over phone, EMR.
Examine patients, order laboratory test and other diagnostic procedures and follow up with acute and chronic diseases
Provide overall quality prenatal health care, gynecological services, patient triage, refer patients with complications, provide patient education service
Perform and interpret ECG test.

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 doctor vs certified medical technician skills

Common medical doctor skills

Patients, 30%
Patient Care, 9%
Internal Medicine, 7%
Primary Care, 7%
Diagnosis, 4%
Medical History, 4%

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 Doctor vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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