Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between operating room technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an operating room technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an operating room technician has an average salary of $53,636, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for an operating room technician include patients, patient care and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Operating Room Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $53,636 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $25.79 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 96,065 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
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.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Operating room technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Operating Room Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $53,636 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $81,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Corvallis, OR | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Maxim Healthcare Group | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between an operating room technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Operating Room Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | - |
Here are the differences between operating room technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Operating Room Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.5% Female, 51.5% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 2% |