Payroll clerk vs certified medical technician

The differences between payroll clerks and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a payroll clerk, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a payroll clerk has an average salary of $41,602, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a payroll clerk include data entry, payroll system and photocopying. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Payroll clerk vs certified medical technician overview

	Payroll Clerk	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$41,602	$38,859
Hourly rate	$20.00	$18.68
Growth rate	-3%	5%
Number of jobs	71,944	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	48	44
Years of experience	4	12

What does a payroll clerk do?

A payroll clerk is responsible for managing the payroll process by collecting the necessary information needed to release payments. Payroll clerks' duties include verifying timesheets, calculating necessary deductions, issuing paychecks timely, managing payment discrepancies and disputes, updating employee's payment information in the database, and creating payroll reports. A payroll clerk must have strong analytical and organization skills, as well as a clear understanding of the organization's payroll policies, ensuring that the process follows regulatory procedures.

What does a certified medical technician do?

Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.

Payroll clerk vs certified medical technician salary

Payroll clerks and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Payroll Clerk	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$41,602	$38,859
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $55,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Alaska
Best paying company	MDU Resources	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Government	Health Care

Differences between payroll clerk and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a payroll clerk and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Payroll Clerk	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Business	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Connecticut

Payroll clerk vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between payroll clerks' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Payroll Clerk	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	48	44
Gender ratio	Male, 12.4% Female, 87.6%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	10%	8%

Differences between payroll clerk and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Payroll clerk example responsibilities.

Manage all worker compensation and cobra benefit issues and filings.
Manage employee drug and background screenings, train new hires and verify I9 information.
Process payroll; assist in establishing new time and attendance (KRONOS) computer system; balance insurance billings.
View, key, post and monitor time and labor, absences and leave balances in PeopleSoft HRIS system.
Compile data and enter information into ADP payroll processing system.
Process payroll and transmit electronically to outside computer service for preparation of payroll checks and reports.

Certified medical technician example responsibilities.

Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.

Payroll clerk vs certified medical technician skills

Common payroll clerk skills

Data Entry, 19%
Payroll System, 10%
Photocopying, 7%
Excellent Organizational, 6%
Customer Service, 6%
ADP, 5%

Common certified medical technician skills

Patients, 17%
Vital Signs, 12%
CPR, 8%
Administer Medications, 7%
Resident Care, 6%
HIPAA, 6%

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Payroll Clerk vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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