Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between telemetry technicians and clinical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a telemetry technician, becoming a clinical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a clinical technician has an average salary of $35,760, which is higher than the $35,758 average annual salary of a telemetry technician.
The top three skills for a telemetry technician include patients, EKG and patient care. The most important skills for a clinical technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.
| Telemetry Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $35,758 | $35,760 |
| Hourly rate | $17.19 | $17.19 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 63,712 | 161,812 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A telemetry technician is responsible for operating the telemetry machine to identify patients' heart rates and rhythms. Telemetry technicians monitor the patients' heart condition by attaching medical equipment to the patients' chest and record findings for the doctor's reference. They also assist with related medical operations and treatment procedures and discuss the processes with the patient. A telemetry technician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in sorting clients' records and medical treatment plans.
A clinical technician is responsible for operating and maintaining clinical equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of all laboratory tools and kits to avoid contamination during medical procedures. Clinical technicians assist the patients with their medical inquiries and needs, collecting samples for laboratory, and helping medical professionals on surgeries and other medical operations. They also maintain medical charts, update patients' information on the database, and administer patients' medication. A clinical technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as strictly following internal guidelines and safety procedures during operations.
Telemetry technicians and clinical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telemetry Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Average salary | $35,758 | $35,760 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $44,000 | Between $26,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a telemetry technician and a clinical technician in terms of educational background:
| Telemetry Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Emory University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between telemetry technicians' and clinical technicians' demographics:
| Telemetry Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.4% Female, 62.6% | Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |