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Rehab aide vs rehabilitation technician

The differences between rehab aides and rehabilitation technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a rehabilitation technician has an average salary of $29,533, which is higher than the $27,050 average annual salary of a rehab aide.

The top three skills for a rehab aide include patients, rehabilitation and scheduling appointments. The most important skills for a rehabilitation technician are patients, rehabilitation, and physical therapy.

Rehab aide vs rehabilitation technician overview

Rehab AideRehabilitation Technician
Yearly salary$27,050$29,533
Hourly rate$13.00$14.20
Growth rate24%24%
Number of jobs41,87231,196
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age3943
Years of experience--

What does a rehab aide do?

A rehab aide is responsible for supporting the rehabilitation team in performing medical and therapy treatments for patients with disabilities and health conditions. Rehab aides perform administrative and clerical duties as needed, such as updating patients' information on the database, responding to patients' concerns, processing medical payments, administering medications, and assisting rehabilitation staff on medical procedures. They also monitor patients' conditions, create reports, and keep an organized medical chart for reference. A rehab aide should be highly communicative and organizational, especially on attending to each patient's needs under different circumstances with high-quality services.

What does a rehabilitation technician do?

A rehabilitation technician is responsible for assisting therapists and other medical personnel on supporting the patients in their daily activities and physical therapy sessions. Rehabilitation technicians provide high-quality care services for the patients by administering medications, accompanying them on medical appointments, and ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of all equipment and facilities to prevent hazards within the premises. They may also perform administrative and clerical duties such as updating patients' information on the database, writing reports, processing payments for medical procedures, and maintaining medical charts for reference.

Rehab aide vs rehabilitation technician salary

Rehab aides and rehabilitation technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Rehab AideRehabilitation Technician
Average salary$27,050$29,533
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $34,000Between $23,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Lawrence General Hospital
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between rehab aide and rehabilitation technician education

There are a few differences between a rehab aide and a rehabilitation technician in terms of educational background:

Rehab AideRehabilitation Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorKinesiologyKinesiology
Most common collegeInter American University of Puerto Rico San GermanUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Rehab aide vs rehabilitation technician demographics

Here are the differences between rehab aides' and rehabilitation technicians' demographics:

Rehab AideRehabilitation Technician
Average age3943
Gender ratioMale, 28.4% Female, 71.6%Male, 31.0% Female, 69.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 8.6% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 14.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.5% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage7%8%

Differences between rehab aide and rehabilitation technician duties and responsibilities

Rehab aide example responsibilities.

  • Assist therapists with exercises, transfers, and ADL's.
  • Perform therapeutic ultrasounds, electrical muscle stimulation, Iontophoresis and DRS on patients as needed.
  • Administer prescribe therapeutic exercise for patients with cervical, lumbar, shoulder, hip and knee injuries.
  • Provide pre-therapy moist heat, set up patients on various machines, and deliver cryotherapy to patients.
  • Assist patients with exercises using crutches and a variety of physical/ occupational and wheelchair chair clinic equipment.
  • Provide patients with instruction for exercises (including home programs), thermotherapy, cryotherapy, and electrotherapy.
  • Show more

Rehabilitation technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage organization and cleanliness of therapy room and equipment.
  • Record vital signs and assist patients in performing their ADL's as directed by medical or nursing staff.
  • Assist patients with neurological conditions with different mobility training, ADL training, and strengthening exercises.
  • Assist with the modification of therapy plans, assist with manual stretching and traction of patients.
  • Prepare patients for electrical stimulation, mechanical traction, and ultrasounds.
  • Assist in operating a physical therapy facility by helping patients improve their movement, stamina, coordination, and intellectual capacity.
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Rehab aide vs rehabilitation technician skills

Common rehab aide skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Rehabilitation, 15%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 9%
  • Splints, 6%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Compassion, 6%
Common rehabilitation technician skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Rehabilitation, 18%
  • Physical Therapy, 12%
  • CPR, 9%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Occupational Therapy, 4%

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