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The differences between telemetry technicians and pulmonary function technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a telemetry technician and a pulmonary function technician. Additionally, a pulmonary function technician has an average salary of $50,458, 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 pulmonary function technician are patients, respiratory care, and patient care.
| Telemetry Technician | Pulmonary Function Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $35,758 | $50,458 |
| Hourly rate | $17.19 | $24.26 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 63,712 | 50,955 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
Pulmonary Function Technologists generally pay around $77K per year and require skills in respiratory care, spirometry, RRT, and understanding test results. In addition to a high school diploma, most employers will require anyone who chooses this career to have an associate degree in respiratory therapy or NBRC certification. This will be needed in a career that calls for setting up and running respective patients' respiratory tests for identifying lung diseases or disorders and conducting tests and collaborating with medical staff for possible diagnoses of lung disease.
Telemetry technicians and pulmonary function technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telemetry Technician | Pulmonary Function Technician | |
| Average salary | $35,758 | $50,458 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $44,000 | Between $33,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | - |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a telemetry technician and a pulmonary function technician in terms of educational background:
| Telemetry Technician | Pulmonary Function Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | Emory University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between telemetry technicians' and pulmonary function technicians' demographics:
| Telemetry Technician | Pulmonary Function Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.4% Female, 62.6% | Male, 52.0% Female, 48.0% |
| 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, 10.6% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 13.9% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |