Pet care associate vs certified medical technician

The differences between pet care associates and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-3 months to become a pet care associate, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $35,635 average annual salary of a pet care associate.

The top three skills for a pet care associate include PET, customer service and sales floor. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Pet care associate vs certified medical technician overview

	Pet Care Associate	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$35,635	$38,859
Hourly rate	$17.13	$18.68
Growth rate	28%	5%
Number of jobs	84,256	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	32	44
Years of experience	3	12

What does a pet care associate do?

Pet care associates, though holding a small position, will find its scope much larger than one would initially expect. This position requires an individual with gentleness, patience, confidence, carefulness, diligence, and a hard-working attitude. Paying out at around $33K per year, those who choose this career will be required to help customers with questions and issues related to small mammals, reptiles, fish, and birds.

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.

Pet care associate vs certified medical technician salary

Pet care associates and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Pet Care Associate	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$35,635	$38,859
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $48,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Minneapolis, MN	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	Oregon	Alaska
Best paying company	Purr'n Pooch	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Retail	Health Care

Differences between pet care associate and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a pet care associate and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Pet Care Associate	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Biology	Nursing
Most common college	Northwestern University	University of Connecticut

Pet care associate vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between pet care associates' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Pet Care Associate	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	32	44
Gender ratio	Male, 24.8% Female, 75.2%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 2.6% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	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	11%	8%

Differences between pet care associate and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Pet care associate example responsibilities.

Achieve detailed grooming including skin, ear, nail care, coat clips and dental care.
Prepare foods for various animals to include reptiles, snakes, hamsters, and birds etc.
Communicate with customers about events/concerns in which include their pet.
Assist patients in meeting their personal care needs and provide individualized interventions while encouraging patient involvement and promoting independence.
Used touch point and SMS and can quickly adapt to other computer software's.

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.

Pet care associate vs certified medical technician skills

Common pet care associate skills

PET, 55%
Customer Service, 21%
Sales Floor, 4%
Quality Care, 3%
Administer Medications, 2%
Fish Tanks, 2%

Common certified medical technician skills

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

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Pet Care Associate vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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