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The differences between surgery technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a surgery technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a surgery technician has an average salary of $41,646, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a surgery technician include patients, patient care and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Surgery Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,646 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $20.02 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 83,376 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 32 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A surgery technician plays a vital role in the success of medical surgeries. They are primarily in charge of performing essential support tasks such as sanitizing and preparing operating rooms, setting-up equipment, sterilizing instruments, and ensuring that supplies are accurate and adequate. They also prepare patients before surgeries, assist surgeons by handing out supplies or tools, and participate in transporting the patients from one room to another. Moreover, they must maintain an active communication line with nurses and surgeons, coordinating every step of the way.
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.
Surgery technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Surgery Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,646 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $55,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a surgery technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Surgery Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Business |
| Most common college | Emory University | - |
Here are the differences between surgery technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Surgery Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 32 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.3% Female, 73.7% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |