Telemetry technician vs patient care technician

The differences between telemetry technicians and patient care technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a telemetry technician has an average salary of $35,758, which is higher than the $32,806 average annual salary of a patient care technician.

The top three skills for a telemetry technician include patients, EKG and patient care. The most important skills for a patient care technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.

Telemetry technician vs patient care technician overview

	Telemetry Technician	Patient Care Technician
Yearly salary	$35,758	$32,806
Hourly rate	$17.19	$15.77
Growth rate	10%	9%
Number of jobs	63,712	167,520
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Average age	45	34
Years of experience	2	-

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 a patient care technician do?

Patient care technicians are medical workers who work in clinics, hospitals, or other medical facilities under the supervision of doctors or other health professionals. They provide assistance to health professionals and patients. They help patients with mobility concerns get into hospital beds, bathrooms, wheelchairs, and more. They also help patients with their physical therapy sessions and other physical needs. They handle patient concerns and communicate these to attending physicians. They may be assigned to administer basic medical procedures such as checking vital signs and collecting samples from patients, among others.

Telemetry technician vs patient care technician salary

Telemetry technicians and patient care technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Telemetry Technician	Patient Care Technician
Average salary	$35,758	$32,806
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $44,000	Between $24,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	Fremont, CA	Rochester, NH
Highest paying state	California	Vermont
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between telemetry technician and patient care technician education

There are a few differences between a telemetry technician and a patient care technician in terms of educational background:

	Telemetry Technician	Patient Care Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	Emory University	Emory University

Telemetry technician vs patient care technician demographics

Here are the differences between telemetry technicians' and patient care technicians' demographics:

	Telemetry Technician	Patient Care Technician
Average age	45	34
Gender ratio	Male, 37.4% Female, 62.6%	Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0%
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, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	8%	15%

Differences between telemetry technician and patient care 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).

Patient care technician example responsibilities.

Manage care and prepare medical records, transcription and supply orders.
Manage daily care of high acuity patients with neurological trauma/disorders and post-surgery.
Qualify to perform patient care responsibilities on catheter patients.
Transport patients using wheelchairs and stretchers and assist patients to ambulate safely.
Assist with transferring patients in and out of wheelchairs, recliners, and stretchers.
Apply protective restraints safely and appropriately, assist in the admission, discharge and transfer of patients as needed.

Telemetry technician vs patient care technician skills

Common telemetry technician skills

Patients, 26%
EKG, 15%
Patient Care, 9%
Customer Service, 8%
Rhythm Interpretation, 4%
ICU, 4%

Common patient care technician skills

Patients, 24%
Vital Signs, 9%
Phlebotomy, 7%
CPR, 6%
Direct Patient Care, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Telemetry Technician
Telemetry Technician vs Patient Care Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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