Respiratory care practitioner vs certified medical technician

The differences between respiratory care practitioners and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a respiratory care practitioner and a certified medical technician. Additionally, a respiratory care practitioner has an average salary of $55,702, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a respiratory care practitioner include patients, respiratory care and BLS. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Respiratory care practitioner vs certified medical technician overview

	Respiratory Care Practitioner	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$55,702	$38,859
Hourly rate	$26.78	$18.68
Growth rate	14%	5%
Number of jobs	99,895	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	46	44
Years of experience	12	12

What does a respiratory care practitioner do?

A Respiratory Care Practitioner assesses and treats patients with pulmonary diseases. They diagnose lung and breathing disorders and recommend treatment methods.

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.

Respiratory care practitioner vs certified medical technician salary

Respiratory care practitioners and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Respiratory Care Practitioner	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$55,702	$38,859
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $99,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	California	Alaska
Best paying company	UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between respiratory care practitioner and certified medical technician education

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

	Respiratory Care Practitioner	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Medical Technician	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	University of Connecticut

Respiratory care practitioner vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between respiratory care practitioners' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Respiratory Care Practitioner	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	46	44
Gender ratio	Male, 41.1% Female, 58.9%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	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	9%	8%

Differences between respiratory care practitioner and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Respiratory care practitioner example responsibilities.

Conduct therapeutic procedures to maintain a patent airway, remove via suctioning of secretions, to achieve adequate ventilation & oxygenation.
Administer therapeutic and diagnostic respiratory care and life support for patients with cardiopulmonary deficiencies and abnormalities.
Certify in BLS and CPR.
Provide emergency care, including CPR, ACLS and assisting physician with intubations.
Provide emergency care, artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Adhere to respiratory treatment protocols to ensure the delivery of high-quality respiratory care services to patients.

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.

Respiratory care practitioner vs certified medical technician skills

Common respiratory care practitioner skills

Patients, 14%
Respiratory Care, 8%
BLS, 6%
Acls, 5%
RCP, 5%
RRT, 5%

Common certified medical technician skills

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

Respiratory Care Practitioner vs. similar jobs

Respiratory Care Practitioner related careers

Respiratory Care Practitioner related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Respiratory Care Practitioner
Respiratory Care Practitioner vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs