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The differences between monitor technicians and anesthesia technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a monitor technician, becoming an anesthesia technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an anesthesia technician has an average salary of $39,640, which is higher than the $35,460 average annual salary of a monitor technician.
The top three skills for a monitor technician include patients, EKG and BLS. The most important skills for an anesthesia technician are patients, patient care, and BLS.
| Monitor Technician | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $35,460 | $39,640 |
| Hourly rate | $17.05 | $19.06 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 56,963 | 78,132 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A monitor technician works in hospitals and other health care centers that provide treatment relating to heart health. They are also known as cardiac monitor technicians, who assist physicians and nurses with diagnosing and interpreting conditions related to the heart through several methods of monitoring and testing. Most of their work includes using machines and other medical technology in tracking patients' heart performance and check for any possible abnormalities. They monitor irregular heartbeats, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest. They also use this technology to perform various tests on the heart but typically do not provide treatment.
Anesthesia technicians are healthcare professionals who oversee activities related to anesthetics. They administer anesthesia to patients and assist doctors in related activities. They also monitor the patient after the anesthesia is administered to ensure that no harmful side effects occurred. Anesthesia technicians are expected to know how to test for anesthetic allergies and to spot signs of such allergies. They should be familiar with the different techniques, solutions, and equipment used for anesthetic procedures. Aside from those, anesthesia technicians are also expected to manage the inventory of anesthetic solutions and to trigger purchase requests for new stocks.
Monitor technicians and anesthesia technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Monitor Technician | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Average salary | $35,460 | $39,640 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $43,000 | Between $30,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Medford, OR | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Utah | California |
| Best paying company | MLK Community Healthcare | Children's Hospital Los Angeles |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between a monitor technician and an anesthesia technician in terms of educational background:
| Monitor Technician | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between monitor technicians' and anesthesia technicians' demographics:
| Monitor Technician | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3% | Male, 50.5% Female, 49.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 4.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 13% |