Patient care technician vs med technician

The differences between patient care technicians and med technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a med technician has an average salary of $44,523, which is higher than the $32,806 average annual salary of a patient care technician.

The top three skills for a patient care technician include patients, vital signs and phlebotomy. The most important skills for a med technician are patients, med-tech, and cleanliness.

Patient care technician vs med technician overview

	Patient Care Technician	Med Technician
Yearly salary	$32,806	$44,523
Hourly rate	$15.77	$21.41
Growth rate	9%	5%
Number of jobs	167,520	141,154
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 27%	High School Diploma, 32%
Average age	34	38
Years of experience	-	-

What does a patient care technician do?

Patient care technicians are medical workers who work in clinics, hospitals, or other medical facilities under the supervision of doctors or other health professionals. They provide assistance to health professionals and patients. They help patients with mobility concerns get into hospital beds, bathrooms, wheelchairs, and more. They also help patients with their physical therapy sessions and other physical needs. They handle patient concerns and communicate these to attending physicians. They may be assigned to administer basic medical procedures such as checking vital signs and collecting samples from patients, among others.

What does a med technician do?

Typically working in hospitals or private clinics, a med technician specializes in collecting blood or bodily fluids and analyzing them through laboratory tests. The results of these tests will be a vital factor in diagnosing a patient's condition and what treatment a physician should give. Moreover, a med technician is also responsible for producing accurate reports, reviewing data, coordinating with physicians and other health care workers, maintaining a clean and sanitized work environment, and adhering to the company's safety policies and standards.

Patient care technician vs med technician salary

Patient care technicians and med technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Patient Care Technician	Med Technician
Average salary	$32,806	$44,523
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $43,000	Between $31,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City	Rochester, NH	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	Vermont	California
Best paying company	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	Children's Hospital of Michigan
Best paying industry	Health Care	Government

Differences between patient care technician and med technician education

There are a few differences between a patient care technician and a med technician in terms of educational background:

	Patient Care Technician	Med Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 27%	High School Diploma, 32%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	Emory University	-

Patient care technician vs med technician demographics

Here are the differences between patient care technicians' and med technicians' demographics:

	Patient Care Technician	Med Technician
Average age	34	38
Gender ratio	Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0%	Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.1% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	15%	5%

Differences between patient care technician and med technician duties and responsibilities

Patient care technician example responsibilities.

Manage care and prepare medical records, transcription and supply orders.
Manage daily care of high acuity patients with neurological trauma/disorders and post-surgery.
Qualify to perform patient care responsibilities on catheter patients.
Transport patients using wheelchairs and stretchers and assist patients to ambulate safely.
Assist with transferring patients in and out of wheelchairs, recliners, and stretchers.
Apply protective restraints safely and appropriately, assist in the admission, discharge and transfer of patients as needed.

Med technician example responsibilities.

Manage memory unity within facility.
Measure heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, blood-oxygen level and electrocardiogram information using sophisticate equipment.
Work hematology, urinalysis and some serology on day shift.
Work in all aspects of the lab including: chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, blood bank, et.
Perform routine hematology, coagulation, and urinalysis testing.
Supervise caregivers, administer medications, assist elderly with daily rituals, care for memory care patients.

Patient care technician vs med technician skills

Common patient care technician skills

Patients, 24%
Vital Signs, 9%
Phlebotomy, 7%
CPR, 6%
Direct Patient Care, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

Common med technician skills

Patients, 10%
Med-Tech, 9%
Cleanliness, 9%
CPR, 9%
Quality Care, 8%
Resident Care, 6%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Patient Care Technician
Patient Care Technician vs Med Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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