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Telemetry technician vs emergency medical technician

The differences between telemetry technicians and emergency medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an emergency medical technician has an average salary of $39,743, 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 an emergency medical technician are patients, CPR, and EMS.

Telemetry technician vs emergency medical technician overview

Telemetry TechnicianEmergency Medical Technician
Yearly salary$35,758$39,743
Hourly rate$17.19$19.11
Growth rate10%7%
Number of jobs63,712137,617
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age4536
Years of experience2-

What does a telemetry technician do?

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.

What does an emergency medical technician do?

Emergency medical technicians or EMTs are skilled medical professionals who act as first responders to injured or sick patients. They apply first aid or do emergency medical procedures upon arriving at the area where the emergency happened. For serious or grave injuries, they do not have complete medical equipment at their disposal, so they have limited capacities on the field. Despite that, EMTs do their best to ensure that patients would reach the hospital for such high-risk cases. EMTs are expected to be calm under pressure and have extensive knowledge of first aid and of basic medical procedures.

Telemetry technician vs emergency medical technician salary

Telemetry technicians and emergency medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Telemetry TechnicianEmergency Medical Technician
Average salary$35,758$39,743
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $44,000Between $26,000 And $59,000
Highest paying CityFremont, CANew Brunswick, NJ
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyLewistown Hospital
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between telemetry technician and emergency medical technician education

There are a few differences between a telemetry technician and an emergency medical technician in terms of educational background:

Telemetry TechnicianEmergency Medical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common majorNursingMedical Technician
Most common collegeEmory University-

Telemetry technician vs emergency medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between telemetry technicians' and emergency medical technicians' demographics:

Telemetry TechnicianEmergency Medical Technician
Average age4536
Gender ratioMale, 37.4% Female, 62.6%Male, 60.9% Female, 39.1%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between telemetry technician and emergency medical technician duties and responsibilities

Telemetry technician example responsibilities.

  • Observe patients being monitor while in the ICU and the Med/Surge unit and reporting any abnormal findings to the RN.
  • Monitor patients and administer EKG.
  • Utilize varied medical equipment including telemetry monitors, vital sign monitors and lifting equipment to care for patients.
  • Provide continuous observation of monitor ECG rhythms for patients on telemetry and report pertinent information to appropriate nursing personnel.
  • Pass instruments, sponges, and suture to surgical team.
  • Assist in code situations by providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
  • Show more

Emergency medical technician example responsibilities.

  • Provide medical emergency response, non-emergency transport services, event medical services, manage transportation services and paramedic and EMT training.
  • Demonstrate manual dexterity, with ability to perform all tasks relate to quality patient care.
  • Coordinate emergency transport of patients while providing treatment and triage in a variety of emergency situations.
  • File reports for patients, restock ambulance and supplies at base, have ACLS training, injection.
  • Handled/administered all types of ACLS medications to pediatric, adult and geriatric patients on a daily basis.
  • Assist nurse/physician with procedure such as suturing, lumbar puncture, catherization, casting/reduction, and application of restraints.
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Telemetry technician vs emergency medical technician skills

Common telemetry technician skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • EKG, 15%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Rhythm Interpretation, 4%
  • ICU, 4%
Common emergency medical technician skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • CPR, 11%
  • EMS, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Life Support, 5%
  • EMT-B, 3%

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