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Surgical scrub technician vs radiologic technician

The differences between surgical scrub technicians and radiologic 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 surgical scrub technician, becoming a radiologic technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a surgical scrub technician has an average salary of $52,701, which is higher than the $50,622 average annual salary of a radiologic technician.

The top three skills for a surgical scrub technician include patients, surgical procedures and CPR. The most important skills for a radiologic technician are patients, ARRT, and radiologic technologist.

Surgical scrub technician vs radiologic technician overview

Surgical Scrub TechnicianRadiologic Technician
Yearly salary$52,701$50,622
Hourly rate$25.34$24.34
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs40,16858,797
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 40%Associate Degree, 69%
Average age4143
Years of experience122

What does a surgical scrub technician do?

A surgical Scrub Technician can be referred to as a doctor because he/she is a committed technician who does multiple tasks like providing the surgeon with nice instruments for surgery. They provide sterile instruments to the surgeon, prepare the operating table, sterilize the instruments, and make the room neat and clean.

What does a radiologic technician do?

A radiologic technician is responsible for testing and treating patients with radiology machines under the assistance of a radiologist. Duties of a radiologic technician include performing radiology procedures, monitoring the equipment's safety and stability, assisting the patients with the guidelines, detecting and resolving possible system malfunctions, and preventing excessive radiation exposure. A radiologic technician must have excellent technical skills and excellent knowledge of the medical industry to support the patients and provide additional assistance.

Surgical scrub technician vs radiologic technician salary

Surgical scrub technicians and radiologic technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Surgical Scrub TechnicianRadiologic Technician
Average salary$52,701$50,622
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $77,000Between $32,000 And $79,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-TALENT Software Services
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between surgical scrub technician and radiologic technician education

There are a few differences between a surgical scrub technician and a radiologic technician in terms of educational background:

Surgical Scrub TechnicianRadiologic Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 40%Associate Degree, 69%
Most common majorNursingMedical Technician
Most common collegeUniversity of ConnecticutTexas A&M University

Surgical scrub technician vs radiologic technician demographics

Here are the differences between surgical scrub technicians' and radiologic technicians' demographics:

Surgical Scrub TechnicianRadiologic Technician
Average age4143
Gender ratioMale, 28.3% Female, 71.7%Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 4.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 9.9% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage13%10%

Differences between surgical scrub technician and radiologic technician duties and responsibilities

Surgical scrub technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage sterilization of field during surgical procedures, ensuring cleanliness and sanitation meet organization protocol.
  • Clamp, ligation and cutting of tissue per surgeon's directive.
  • Pass instruments, sponges, sutures, and needles to surgeons and their assistants.
  • Communicate patient status to other units including PACU, ICU, and blood bank.
  • Remain flexible to float into the PACU, same day surgery, prep room, and GI as needed.
  • Act as liaison between technical staff, anesthesia residents, MD's, CRNA's, and hospital management.
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Radiologic technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage imaging databases and relate processes including image file compression and EMR implementations.
  • Accomplish surgical studies utilizing a portable c-arm digital fluoroscopic machine under the direction of a physician.
  • Perform general radiography, fluoroscopy, compute tomography and work in the operating room.
  • Handle both inpatients and outpatients of all ages.
  • Have worked with traditional x-ray systems as well as DR and CR.
  • Attend yearly CPR re-certification classes in addition to maintaining continuing education points for ARRT and IEMA.
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Surgical scrub technician vs radiologic technician skills

Common surgical scrub technician skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Surgical Procedures, 14%
  • CPR, 12%
  • HIPAA, 8%
  • Surgical Equipment, 8%
  • Surgical Scrub, 6%
Common radiologic technician skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • ARRT, 11%
  • Radiologic Technologist, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Pacs, 4%
  • ALARA, 2%

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