Therapy technician vs med technician

The differences between therapy technicians and med technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a med technician has an average salary of $44,523, which is higher than the $28,943 average annual salary of a therapy technician.

The top three skills for a therapy technician include patients, rehabilitation and CPR. The most important skills for a med technician are patients, med-tech, and cleanliness.

Therapy technician vs med technician overview

	Therapy Technician	Med Technician
Yearly salary	$28,943	$44,523
Hourly rate	$13.91	$21.41
Growth rate	24%	5%
Number of jobs	36,360	141,154
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	High School Diploma, 32%
Average age	43	38
Years of experience	-	-

What does a therapy technician do?

A therapy technician is responsible for supporting therapists in providing the highest quality care services for the patients, administering treatment plans, and guiding patients to full recovery. Therapy technicians also perform administrative duties, such as updating patients' information on the database, monitoring patients' condition, reviewing medical charts, processing payments for therapy procedures, and performing medical examinations under the supervision of medical professionals. They operate various therapy equipment, inspect the performance of the machinery, and ask for maintenance support for repairs or replacement as needed.

What does a med technician do?

Typically working in hospitals or private clinics, a med technician specializes in collecting blood or bodily fluids and analyzing them through laboratory tests. The results of these tests will be a vital factor in diagnosing a patient's condition and what treatment a physician should give. Moreover, a med technician is also responsible for producing accurate reports, reviewing data, coordinating with physicians and other health care workers, maintaining a clean and sanitized work environment, and adhering to the company's safety policies and standards.

Therapy technician vs med technician salary

Therapy technicians and med technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Therapy Technician	Med Technician
Average salary	$28,943	$44,523
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $37,000	Between $31,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	Washington	California
Best paying company	Seattle Cancer Care Alliance	Children's Hospital of Michigan
Best paying industry	Health Care	Government

Differences between therapy technician and med technician education

There are a few differences between a therapy technician and a med technician in terms of educational background:

	Therapy Technician	Med Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	High School Diploma, 32%
Most common major	Kinesiology	Nursing
Most common college	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor	-

Therapy technician vs med technician demographics

Here are the differences between therapy technicians' and med technicians' demographics:

	Therapy Technician	Med Technician
Average age	43	38
Gender ratio	Male, 28.6% Female, 71.4%	Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 14.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.5% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.1% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	5%

Differences between therapy technician and med technician duties and responsibilities

Therapy technician example responsibilities.

Perform basic living care for patients and assist with exercises under supervision of a rehabilitation team member.
Provide patient assistance with rehabilitation protocol with appropriate education and technique while monitoring vital signs and effects of treatment.
Direct patients to need areas with crutches, wheel chairs, walkers, canes etc.
Work with the physical and occupational therapists to guide patients through prescribe exercise program efficiently and safely.
Prepare materials for assessments and provide assistance to individuals through hands-on methods and direct contact observations by assisting the rehabilitation supervisor.
Attend professional development workshops in augmentative communication devices, sign language, and skill integration.

Med technician example responsibilities.

Manage memory unity within facility.
Measure heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, blood-oxygen level and electrocardiogram information using sophisticate equipment.
Work hematology, urinalysis and some serology on day shift.
Work in all aspects of the lab including: chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, blood bank, et.
Perform routine hematology, coagulation, and urinalysis testing.
Supervise caregivers, administer medications, assist elderly with daily rituals, care for memory care patients.

Therapy technician vs med technician skills

Common therapy technician skills

Patients, 23%
Rehabilitation, 14%
CPR, 8%
Patient Safety, 6%
Occupational Therapy, 5%
Physical Therapy, 5%

Common med technician skills

Patients, 10%
Med-Tech, 9%
Cleanliness, 9%
CPR, 9%
Quality Care, 8%
Resident Care, 6%

Therapy Technician vs. similar jobs

Therapy Technician related careers

Therapy Technician related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Therapy Technician
Therapy Technician vs Med Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs