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The differences between staff technologists and diagnostic technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a staff technologist and a diagnostic technician. Additionally, a staff technologist has an average salary of $57,587, which is higher than the $49,571 average annual salary of a diagnostic technician.
The top three skills for a staff technologist include C++, diagnostic radiology and patient care. The most important skills for a diagnostic technician are patients, patient care, and CPR.
| Staff Technologist | Diagnostic Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $57,587 | $49,571 |
| Hourly rate | $27.69 | $23.83 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 123,142 | 70,089 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Associate Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A staff technologist conducts laboratory requests issued by doctors to determine, diagnose, and treat various diseases. The staff technologist is also under the radiologist technician's umbrella and assists the lead technician in managing the laboratory. Included in a staff technologist's tasks are preparing the specimen for analysis and ensuring that all laboratory equipment is well-calibrated and in working order. Added to the responsibilities are protecting patient information and all confidential data the laboratory received.
Diagnostic Technicians are specialists in the inspecting, maintenance, and repair of equipment or service. Diagnostic Technicians can be working in the automotive sector, inspecting and repairing cars, to performing ultrasound procedures in the healthcare industry. Their duties include analyzing and collecting data, calibrating equipment, performing diagnostic tests and repairs, and organizing work records and reports. A Diagnostic Technician must have sound knowledge in using technical equipment and adheres to safety regulations when handling any tools.
Staff technologists and diagnostic technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Technologist | Diagnostic Technician | |
| Average salary | $57,587 | $49,571 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $99,000 | Between $31,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | Fresno, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | VMware | Waymo |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a staff technologist and a diagnostic technician in terms of educational background:
| Staff Technologist | Diagnostic Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Associate Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | Texas A&M University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between staff technologists' and diagnostic technicians' demographics:
| Staff Technologist | Diagnostic Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.1% Female, 45.9% | Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |