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Rehab technician vs technician

The differences between rehab technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a technician has an average salary of $38,045, which is higher than the $28,505 average annual salary of a rehab technician.

The top three skills for a rehab technician include patients, physical therapy and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Rehab technician vs technician overview

Rehab TechnicianTechnician
Yearly salary$28,505$38,045
Hourly rate$13.70$18.29
Growth rate24%1%
Number of jobs27,969596,842
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age3940
Years of experience-2

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 technician do?

Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.

Rehab technician vs technician salary

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

Rehab TechnicianTechnician
Average salary$28,505$38,045
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $36,000Between $24,000 And $58,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CASan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateColoradoHawaii
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyMicrosoft
Best paying industryHealth CareTelecommunication

Differences between rehab technician and technician education

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

Rehab TechnicianTechnician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorKinesiologyBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Virginia-

Rehab technician vs technician demographics

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

Rehab TechnicianTechnician
Average age3940
Gender ratioMale, 33.7% Female, 66.3%Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8%
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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage7%2%

Differences between rehab technician and technician 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.
  • Show more

Technician example responsibilities.

  • Achieve multiple ASE certifications within first year of employment.
  • Implement and manage UHF radio base stations, repeaters, and command network, effectively linking all regional headquarters.
  • Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
  • Maintain numerous automate scripts to assist in managing Linux systems.
  • Manage, troubleshot and repair multiple wireless technologies including fiber optic transmission switches.
  • Install peripherals including printers, fax machines, scanners, and smartphones.
  • Show more

Rehab technician vs technician skills

Common rehab technician skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Physical Therapy, 10%
  • Rehabilitation, 10%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Cleanliness, 4%
Common technician skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Diagnosis, 5%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 4%

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