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The differences between sterile technicians and 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 sterile technician and a technician. Additionally, a technician has an average salary of $38,045, which is higher than the $35,347 average annual salary of a sterile technician.
The top three skills for a sterile technician include patients, aseptic technique and patient care. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Sterile Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $35,347 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $16.99 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 30,250 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
In the medical industry, a sterile technician is in charge of cleaning and sterilizing surgical and medical tools and devices. They must also operate and organize equipment, monitor the inventory of supplies, maintain official records, coordinate with staff, transport supplies, and keep the cleanliness of different operating areas, decontaminating them to maintain a safe and healthy workflow. Furthermore, a sterile technician must set-up and prepare equipment for procedures, all while adhering to the facility's safety policies and regulations.
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.
Sterile technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sterile Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $35,347 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $44,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Daly City, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Zoetis | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a sterile technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Sterile Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | - |
Here are the differences between sterile technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Sterile Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 9.3% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | 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 Percentage | 9% | 2% |