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The differences between medical supply technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a medical supply technician and a technician. Additionally, a medical supply technician has an average salary of $38,049, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a medical supply technician include sterile processing, veterans and patients. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Medical Supply Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,049 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $18.29 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 79,321 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 29% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A medical supply technician works at medical facilities where they are primarily in charge of sterilizing instruments and equipment, delivering in a timely and efficient manner. Part of their job is to run sterile tests according to protocols and health standards, monitor and maintain inventory records, and place orders to ensure adequate stock of medical supplies. There are also instances when they must liaise with suppliers, oversee the shipment of orders, and resolve issues should any arise.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Medical supply technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Supply Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,049 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $50,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | West Haven, CT | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | General Dynamics | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Government | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a medical supply technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Medical Supply Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 29% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY Stony Brook | - |
Here are the differences between medical supply technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Medical Supply Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.4% Female, 37.6% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 8.5% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 2% |