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Staff technologist vs mammography technician

The differences between staff technologists and mammography 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 mammography technician. Additionally, a mammography technician has an average salary of $64,362, which is higher than the $57,587 average annual salary of a staff technologist.

The top three skills for a staff technologist include C++, diagnostic radiology and patient care. The most important skills for a mammography technician are patients, ARRT, and patient care.

Staff technologist vs mammography technician overview

Staff TechnologistMammography Technician
Yearly salary$57,587$64,362
Hourly rate$27.69$30.94
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs123,14252,998
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Associate Degree, 71%
Average age4343
Years of experience22

What does a staff technologist do?

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.

What does a mammography technician do?

A mammography technician is primarily in charge of operating an imaging machine to detect and diagnose breast diseases. Their responsibilities include greeting patients, reviewing their identification and request documentation, explaining the extent of procedures, answering inquiries, operating machines, performing adjustments, and conducting the study in adherence to the protocols, making sure the patients feel comfortable every step of the way. Furthermore, as a mammography technician, it is essential to practice every safety technique during the procedures, all while enforcing the facility's policies and regulations.

Staff technologist vs mammography technician salary

Staff technologists and mammography technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Staff TechnologistMammography Technician
Average salary$57,587$64,362
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $99,000Between $35,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CityMenlo Park, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyVMwareStability Healthcare
Best paying industryTechnologyHealth Care

Differences between staff technologist and mammography technician education

There are a few differences between a staff technologist and a mammography technician in terms of educational background:

Staff TechnologistMammography Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Associate Degree, 71%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianMedical Technician
Most common collegeTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University

Staff technologist vs mammography technician demographics

Here are the differences between staff technologists' and mammography technicians' demographics:

Staff TechnologistMammography Technician
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 54.1% Female, 45.9%Male, 3.6% Female, 96.4%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between staff technologist and mammography technician duties and responsibilities

Staff technologist example responsibilities.

  • Open and close department independently and also assist surgical staff by managing QC and providing radiopharmaceuticals as needed for procedures.
  • Assist in RF design and development.
  • Used Jmeter to test API and their functionality.
  • Train in MRI procedures and perform exams under the direction of a physician.
  • Perform electrical and environmental test on analog, digital and RF devices per program requirements.
  • Focus on the principles of ALARA, delivering excellent patient care, and performing high quality examinations
  • Show more

Mammography technician example responsibilities.

  • Identify, prepare and position patients for procedure by using establish diagnostic imaging protocols to achieve the highest quality image.
  • Analyze images, FRAX, form DXA reports, send exams to PACS, transfer complete reports to RIS.
  • Perform DXA scans, including LVA.
  • Perform MRI and mammography exams.
  • Enter data daily for RIS system.
  • Perform DEXA scans for osteoporosis testing.
  • Show more

Staff technologist vs mammography technician skills

Common staff technologist skills
  • C++, 10%
  • Diagnostic Radiology, 6%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Windows, 5%
  • R, 5%
  • MRI, 4%
Common mammography technician skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • ARRT, 13%
  • Patient Care, 11%
  • Mammography Technologist, 7%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Pacs, 3%

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