Medical transcriptionist vs certified medical technician

The differences between medical transcriptionists and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $38,725 average annual salary of a medical transcriptionist.

The top three skills for a medical transcriptionist include transcription, dictation and discharge summaries. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Medical transcriptionist vs certified medical technician overview

	Medical Transcriptionist	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$38,725	$38,859
Hourly rate	$18.62	$18.68
Growth rate	-7%	5%
Number of jobs	78,292	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	41	44
Years of experience	-	12

What does a medical transcriptionist do?

A Medical Transcriptionist is responsible for accurately transcribing audio records from Physicians and other health workers as part of a patient's medical history or other necessary documentation. Most of the time, a Medical Transcriptionist must sign non-disclosure agreements as the majority of the information relayed are personal and confidential. Furthermore, they must be meticulous in detecting inconsistencies and errors, translating or converting the information gathered into various medical documents, performing edits and revision, and following up any missing detail.

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 transcriptionist vs certified medical technician salary

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

	Medical Transcriptionist	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$38,725	$38,859
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $47,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Los Angeles, CA	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	Alaska	Alaska
Best paying company	White Plains Hospital	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between medical transcriptionist and certified medical technician education

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

	Medical Transcriptionist	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Health Care Administration	Nursing
Most common college	-	University of Connecticut

Medical transcriptionist vs certified medical technician demographics

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

	Medical Transcriptionist	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	41	44
Gender ratio	Male, 6.3% Female, 93.7%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% 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	9%	8%

Differences between medical transcriptionist and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Medical transcriptionist example responsibilities.

Manage audits using transcribe reports with preoperative and postoperative documentation within the EMR.
Experience in radiology, cardiology, orthopedics, physical therapy, pediatrics, surgery and family practice medical terminology.
Transcribe dictation from various specialty providers at the hospital including orthopedics, urology, podiatry, ophthalmology, and pain management.
Transcribe radiology reports, including MRIs, CTs, nuclear medicine and vascular reports in a high-production, acute care setting.
Maintain medical record integrity by interpreting, editing and transcribing dictation for multiple physicians and nurse practitioners.
Prepare medical documentation from dictation - specializing in the areas of general surgery, orthopedics, plastic/oral surgery

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 transcriptionist vs certified medical technician skills

Common medical transcriptionist skills

Transcription, 16%
Dictation, 10%
Discharge Summaries, 8%
Patient Histories, 5%
Medical Reports, 5%
Patient Care, 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 Transcriptionist vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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