Patient care technician vs patient escort

The differences between patient care technicians and patient escorts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a patient escort has an average salary of $33,351, 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 patient escort are patients, customer service, and patient transport.

Patient care technician vs patient escort overview

	Patient Care Technician	Patient Escort
Yearly salary	$32,806	$33,351
Hourly rate	$15.77	$16.03
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	167,520	174,801
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 27%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Average age	34	42
Years of experience	-	3

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 patient escort do?

A patient escort assists health care staff in providing patient care by managing a patient's immediate needs. Typical duties that you will perform include organizing and coordinating the transport of patients, assisting patients in personal hygiene such as dressing and bathing, and engaging with patients. As a patient escort, you are expected to create good relationships with patients by treating them with dignity and respect. You may also provide support services such as restocking supplies and changing linens.

Patient care technician vs patient escort salary

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

	Patient Care Technician	Patient Escort
Average salary	$32,806	$33,351
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $43,000	Between $25,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	Rochester, NH	-
Highest paying state	Vermont	-
Best paying company	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	-
Best paying industry	Health Care	-

Differences between patient care technician and patient escort education

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

	Patient Care Technician	Patient Escort
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 27%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common major	Nursing	Business
Most common college	Emory University	-

Patient care technician vs patient escort demographics

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

	Patient Care Technician	Patient Escort
Average age	34	42
Gender ratio	Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0%	Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2%
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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 7.6% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	15%	7%

Differences between patient care technician and patient escort 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.

Patient escort example responsibilities.

Conduct and facilitate PCA lead group activities as scheduled
Perform CPR during emergency Harvey situations.
Transport patients to and from on ultrasound and XRay
Ensure patients make timely appointments to MRI and other tests.
Train to safely handle patient moves with traction, IVs, drainage apparatus, oxygen and other encumbrances.
Transport patients to and from surgery to the surgery room to recovery from ultrasound and x ray and so on

Patient care technician vs patient escort skills

Common patient care technician skills

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

Common patient escort skills

Patients, 42%
Customer Service, 9%
Patient Transport, 8%
CPR, 6%
Stretchers, 4%
Reception Desk, 2%

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

Updated January 8, 2025

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