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The differences between operating room technicians and scrub technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an operating room technician and a scrub technician. Additionally, an operating room technician has an average salary of $53,636, which is higher than the $38,718 average annual salary of a scrub technician.
The top three skills for an operating room technician include patients, patient care and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a scrub technician are patients, BLS, and surgical procedures.
| Operating Room Technician | Scrub Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $53,636 | $38,718 |
| Hourly rate | $25.79 | $18.61 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 96,065 | 71,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Associate Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An operating room technician is responsible for assisting in the operating room procedures, ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of the room, inspecting the condition of machines before the operation, and preparing medical tools and equipment accordingly. Operating room technicians guide the patients throughout the surgical procedures, instructing them as necessary regarding the processes. They also monitor the adequacy of surgical supplies inventory and write request reports for purchase. An operating room technician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as the ability to multitask to attend to different patients' needs within a strict, demanding time.
Scrub technicians are surgical technologists who are responsible for assisting surgeons and the surgical team in the operating room. These technicians must set out and sterilize the necessary instruments while helping each member of the surgical team put on their gloves and gowns during a surgical procedure. They are required to pass instruments, sponges, and dressings to the surgeon throughout the procedure. Scrub technicians must also ensure that the operating room and reusable instruments are clean before and after each surgery.
Operating room technicians and scrub technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Operating Room Technician | Scrub Technician | |
| Average salary | $53,636 | $38,718 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $81,000 | Between $30,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Corvallis, OR | White Plains, NY |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Maxim Healthcare Group | Lawrence General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an operating room technician and a scrub technician in terms of educational background:
| Operating Room Technician | Scrub Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Associate Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between operating room technicians' and scrub technicians' demographics:
| Operating Room Technician | Scrub Technician | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.5% Female, 51.5% | Male, 20.5% Female, 79.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 13% | 13% |