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The differences between orthodontic technicians and sterile technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an orthodontic technician and a sterile technician. Additionally, an orthodontic technician has an average salary of $73,370, which is higher than the $35,347 average annual salary of a sterile technician.
The top three skills for an orthodontic technician include patients, scheduling appointments and patient care. The most important skills for a sterile technician are patients, aseptic technique, and patient care.
| Orthodontic Technician | Sterile Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $73,370 | $35,347 |
| Hourly rate | $35.27 | $16.99 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 31,940 | 30,250 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 27% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Orthodontic technicians and sterile technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthodontic Technician | Sterile Technician | |
| Average salary | $73,370 | $35,347 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $120,000 | Between $27,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Daly City, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Zoetis |
| Best paying industry | - | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between an orthodontic technician and a sterile technician in terms of educational background:
| Orthodontic Technician | Sterile Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 27% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Business |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between orthodontic technicians' and sterile technicians' demographics:
| Orthodontic Technician | Sterile Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0% | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 9.5% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 9.3% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 9% |