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The differences between mri technologists 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 an mri technologist, becoming an anesthesia technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an mri technologist has an average salary of $77,257, which is higher than the $39,640 average annual salary of an anesthesia technician.
The top three skills for an mri technologist include patients, ARRT and magnetic resonance imaging. The most important skills for an anesthesia technician are patients, patient care, and BLS.
| MRI Technologist | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $77,257 | $39,640 |
| Hourly rate | $37.14 | $19.06 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 53,125 | 78,132 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technologists are medical professionals who manage everything involved in the MRI machine. They operate the machines to get scans of the patients' brain, spinal cord, or muscles, which would help doctors identify or diagnose clients' illnesses and diseases. They help the patients prepare for the MRI scans and ensure that they are properly protected. They also carefully take direction from attending physicians to ensure that they scan the correct body part needed for the diagnosis. MRI technologists are also in charge of maintaining the MRI machine and working on repairs whenever needed.
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.
Mri technologists and anesthesia technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| MRI Technologist | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Average salary | $77,257 | $39,640 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $138,000 | Between $30,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Modesto, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Siemens Healthineers | Children's Hospital Los Angeles |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between an mri technologist and an anesthesia technician in terms of educational background:
| MRI Technologist | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Nursing |
| Most common college | Texas A&M University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between mri technologists' and anesthesia technicians' demographics:
| MRI Technologist | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% | Male, 50.5% Female, 49.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 10.4% White, 69.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 12% | 13% |