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The differences between x-ray technicians and anesthesia technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an x-ray technician, becoming an anesthesia technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an x-ray technician has an average salary of $51,642, which is higher than the $39,640 average annual salary of an anesthesia technician.
The top three skills for an x-ray technician include patients, ARRT and radiologic technologist. The most important skills for an anesthesia technician are patients, patient care, and BLS.
| X-Ray Technician | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $51,642 | $39,640 |
| Hourly rate | $24.83 | $19.06 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 60,780 | 78,132 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
The job of X-ray technicians, or X-ray technologists, is to detect medical issues that may need urgent medical treatment using cutting-edge imaging methods. The pictures they generate aid physicians in diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses with better accuracy. They use a wide range of imaging technologies such as the traditional X-ray machines, computerized axial tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. X-ray technicians may also perform some office work that includes preparing work schedules, managing radiologic departments, and setting up physicians' stations.
Anesthesia technicians are healthcare professionals who oversee activities related to anesthetics. They administer anesthesia to patients and assist doctors in related activities. They also monitor the patient after the anesthesia is administered to ensure that no harmful side effects occurred. Anesthesia technicians are expected to know how to test for anesthetic allergies and to spot signs of such allergies. They should be familiar with the different techniques, solutions, and equipment used for anesthetic procedures. Aside from those, anesthesia technicians are also expected to manage the inventory of anesthetic solutions and to trigger purchase requests for new stocks.
X-ray technicians and anesthesia technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| X-Ray Technician | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Average salary | $51,642 | $39,640 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $81,000 | Between $30,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fresno, CA | Redwood City, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Stability Healthcare | Children's Hospital Los Angeles |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between an x-ray technician and an anesthesia technician in terms of educational background:
| X-Ray Technician | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Nursing |
| Most common college | Texas A&M University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between x-ray technicians' and anesthesia technicians' demographics:
| X-Ray Technician | Anesthesia Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.3% Female, 59.7% | Male, 50.5% Female, 49.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 9.3% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 4.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 13% |