Primary care provider vs certified medical technician

The differences between primary care providers and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $35,422 average annual salary of a primary care provider.

The top three skills for a primary care provider include patients, internal medicine and family practice. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Primary care provider vs certified medical technician overview

	Primary Care Provider	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$35,422	$38,859
Hourly rate	$17.03	$18.68
Growth rate	36%	5%
Number of jobs	103,863	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	48	44
Years of experience	-	12

What does a primary care provider do?

Primary Care Providers, also known as general practitioners instead of specialists, are doctors trained to be the first point of contact for a patient entering the health care system. They diagnose, treat, and prevent a broad range of injuries and illnesses from allergies and colds to longer-term conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus. Their duties include performing lab tests to identify a condition, prescribing medications, checking for drug interactions, provide wound care, executing spirometry tests and electrocardiograms, and coordinating specialist care for your condition. A Primary Care Provider will also help create self-care plans prescribing a certain diet and recommending exercise routines.

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.

Primary care provider vs certified medical technician salary

Primary care providers and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Primary Care Provider	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$35,422	$38,859
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $58,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Alaska
Best paying company	AstraZeneca	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between primary care provider and certified medical technician education

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

	Primary Care Provider	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	-	University of Connecticut

Primary care provider vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between primary care providers' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Primary Care Provider	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	48	44
Gender ratio	Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 9.7% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	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	7%	8%

Differences between primary care provider and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Primary care provider example responsibilities.

Manage provider network to include verifying claims and benefits for healthcare providers/members and insurance companies.
Work alongside ABA therapists to continue to apply appropriate behavioral techniques.
Examine patients and carefully analyze test results and information gather during examinations to properly diagnose illnesses and diseases.
Used strong oral and written communications skills to develop and maintain effective relationships with patients, co-workers and international medical professionals.
Provide caring companionship to developmentally disabled/elderly residents.
Assist with toileting, including bedpans, urinals and commode chairs.

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.

Primary care provider vs certified medical technician skills

Common primary care provider skills

Patients, 31%
Internal Medicine, 13%
Family Practice, 12%
Patient Care, 11%
Urgent Care, 10%
NP, 4%

Common certified medical technician skills

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

Primary Care Provider vs. similar jobs

Primary Care Provider related careers

Primary Care Provider related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Personal Care and Attendants Industry
Primary Care Provider
Primary Care Provider vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse personal care and attendants jobs