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Rehab technician vs rehab aide

The differences between rehab technicians and rehab aides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a rehab technician has an average salary of $28,505, which is higher than the $27,050 average annual salary of a rehab aide.

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

Rehab technician vs rehab aide overview

Rehab TechnicianRehab Aide
Yearly salary$28,505$27,050
Hourly rate$13.70$13.00
Growth rate24%24%
Number of jobs27,96941,872
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age3939
Years of experience--

What does a rehab technician do?

A rehab technician's role is to assist physical therapists and patients in a hospital or similar facility. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around gathering a patient's personal information and medical history, escorting them to corresponding rooms, and conducting initial tests and assessments. It is also essential to maintain records of all transactions, updating medical accounts promptly and accurately. Furthermore, a rehab technician may also perform basic treatments under the supervision of a physical therapist. There are also instances when they have to sanitize and clean therapy equipment, all in adherence to the facility's safety regulations and policies.

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.

Rehab technician vs rehab aide salary

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

Rehab TechnicianRehab Aide
Average salary$28,505$27,050
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $36,000Between $21,000 And $34,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CA-
Highest paying stateColorado-
Best paying companyUniversity of California, Berkeley-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between rehab technician and rehab aide education

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

Rehab TechnicianRehab Aide
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorKinesiologyKinesiology
Most common collegeUniversity of VirginiaInter American University of Puerto Rico San German

Rehab technician vs rehab aide demographics

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

Rehab TechnicianRehab Aide
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 33.7% Female, 66.3%Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between rehab technician and rehab aide duties and responsibilities

Rehab technician example responsibilities.

  • Make rounds for walkers and wheelchairs for patients.
  • Assist therapist with transfers, monitoring of splints, hot packs, and modalities.
  • Prepare patients for therapy sessions and assist patients to put on devices such as braces and splints.
  • Maintain and clean medical equipment, interact with staff and patients, and occasionally cover the reception desk.Skills UsedCNA and CPR
  • Provide nursing and orthopedic patient care for stroke patients, assisting with rehabilitation, medication and recovery knowledge.
  • Assist physical therapists in the rehabilitation of patients by providing exercise programs and proper treatment for healthy injury recovery.
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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.
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Rehab technician vs rehab aide skills

Common rehab technician skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Physical Therapy, 10%
  • Rehabilitation, 10%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Cleanliness, 4%
Common rehab aide skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Rehabilitation, 15%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 9%
  • Splints, 6%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Compassion, 6%

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