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The differences between x-ray technicians and ekg technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an x-ray technician and an ekg technician. Additionally, an x-ray technician has an average salary of $51,642, which is higher than the $35,160 average annual salary of an ekg technician.
The top three skills for an x-ray technician include patients, ARRT and radiologic technologist. The most important skills for an ekg technician are patients, BLS, and patient care.
| X-Ray Technician | EKG Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $51,642 | $35,160 |
| Hourly rate | $24.83 | $16.90 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 60,780 | 52,679 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 27% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
An EKG technician is responsible for conducting laboratory tests using advanced equipment and machines to diagnose and identify patients' conditions with cardiovascular problems. EKG technicians must have excellent knowledge of the process to discuss the procedures and respond to the patients' inquiries and concerns accurately. They help the doctors in diagnosing patients and developing treatment plans upon the interpretation of the results. An EKG technician inspects the stability and efficiency of the equipment regularly to prevent delays and inconsistencies with the results.
X-ray technicians and ekg technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| X-Ray Technician | EKG Technician | |
| Average salary | $51,642 | $35,160 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $81,000 | Between $28,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fresno, CA | Springfield, OR |
| Highest paying state | California | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Stability Healthcare | UC Merced |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an x-ray technician and an ekg technician in terms of educational background:
| X-Ray Technician | EKG Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 27% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | Texas A&M University | Emory University |
Here are the differences between x-ray technicians' and ekg technicians' demographics:
| X-Ray Technician | EKG Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.3% Female, 59.7% | Male, 23.5% Female, 76.5% |
| 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, 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 | 10% | 8% |