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Medical service technician vs clinical technician

The differences between medical service technicians and clinical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a medical service technician has an average salary of $37,943, which is higher than the $35,760 average annual salary of a clinical technician.

The top three skills for a medical service technician include patients, customer service and vital signs. The most important skills for a clinical technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.

Medical service technician vs clinical technician overview

Medical Service TechnicianClinical Technician
Yearly salary$37,943$35,760
Hourly rate$18.24$17.19
Growth rate7%9%
Number of jobs189,362161,812
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 31%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age3644
Years of experience-12

What does a medical service technician do?

A medical service technician provides health care and treatments to patients under the supervision or directives of a more experienced physician. Most of their responsibilities revolve around assessing a patient's condition, administering required aid, diagnosing patients, conducting check-ups, and counseling patients. There are also instances when a medical service technician may prescribe medications, conduct inspections at facilities to ensure sanitary conditions, and coordinate with hospital staff for requesting supplies. Furthermore, it is crucial to have accurate documentation of all processes and transactions, all while adhering to the hospital's policies and standards.

What does a clinical technician do?

A clinical technician is responsible for operating and maintaining clinical equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of all laboratory tools and kits to avoid contamination during medical procedures. Clinical technicians assist the patients with their medical inquiries and needs, collecting samples for laboratory, and helping medical professionals on surgeries and other medical operations. They also maintain medical charts, update patients' information on the database, and administer patients' medication. A clinical technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as strictly following internal guidelines and safety procedures during operations.

Medical service technician vs clinical technician salary

Medical service technicians and clinical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Service TechnicianClinical Technician
Average salary$37,943$35,760
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $61,000Between $26,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CitySalem, MASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateConnecticutAlaska
Best paying companySunrise SystemsBrigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between medical service technician and clinical technician education

There are a few differences between a medical service technician and a clinical technician in terms of educational background:

Medical Service TechnicianClinical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 31%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of VirginiaUniversity of Connecticut

Medical service technician vs clinical technician demographics

Here are the differences between medical service technicians' and clinical technicians' demographics:

Medical Service TechnicianClinical Technician
Average age3644
Gender ratioMale, 30.8% Female, 69.2%Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between medical service technician and clinical technician duties and responsibilities

Medical service technician example responsibilities.

  • Create and maintain confidential patient files; implement EHR systems to automate patient records management for the purposes of meaningful use.
  • Administer and document vaccinations and perform strep tests, finger sticks, urinalysis, and various need lab tests.
  • Run QC on all lab instrumentation ensuring reports are within acceptable limits.
  • Keep track of all POC inventory, reagents, QC materials and equipment validations.
  • Apply cold packs to affect injuries of the patient, fit crutches on patients.
  • Maintain all training and CPR certifications in order to actively participate in codes with in the hospital.
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Clinical technician example responsibilities.

  • Prepare QC and QA samples for validity testing.
  • Resolve issues from level 1 EMR support as well as EMR issues transfer from other departments.
  • Recognize life threatening situations and activate the emergency response system while assisting with CPR and code cart.
  • Report and document description of patient care information in EMR in accordance with hospital policy and procedure.
  • Participate in reviews and QC of external central laboratory contracts, sample kits and manuals and ensure accuracy.
  • Assist in advance and basic life support techniques, perform EKG's, blood withdrawal, and computer order entry.
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Medical service technician vs clinical technician skills

Common medical service technician skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
  • Infection Control, 5%
  • Phlebotomy, 4%
  • CPR, 4%
Common clinical technician skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Phlebotomy, 7%
  • Direct Patient Care, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • EKG, 4%

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