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The differences between merchandise processors and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a merchandise processor and a certified medical technician. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $31,092 average annual salary of a merchandise processor.
The top three skills for a merchandise processor include customer service, sales floor and basic math. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.
| Merchandise Processor | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $31,092 | $38,859 |
| Hourly rate | $14.95 | $18.68 |
| Growth rate | -4% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 13,551 | 164,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Merchandise Processor works at warehouse facilities where they are in charge of preparing and processing merchandise. Their tasks typically revolve around monitoring inventory, organizing and labeling products, packing and tagging items, strategically arranging materials to maximize warehouse spaces, storing supplies according to protocols, and maintaining incoming and outgoing merchandise. There are also instances when they must inspect the product's quality and quantity, sort and price items, and produce reports. A Merchandise Processor typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for an efficient and smooth workflow.
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.
Merchandise processors and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandise Processor | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average salary | $31,092 | $38,859 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $37,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lombard, IL | Denton, TX |
| Highest paying state | New York | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Steve Madden | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a merchandise processor and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:
| Merchandise Processor | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Business | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between merchandise processors' and certified medical technicians' demographics:
| Merchandise Processor | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.0% Female, 56.0% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 7% | 8% |