Health Techs Job Overview
Health techs are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of patient's medical problems. Some health technicians focus on administering medical therapy to patient's. The field includes a variety of specialties. Some of the specialities are diagnostic medical sonographers, medical appliance technicians, cardiovascular technologists and technicians, and radiologic technologists and technicians. Health technologists and technicians often work with other health care providers.
Health Techs Schools and Degrees
Many community colleges and vocational schools provide training in heath technician specialties. Some schools offer applicable bachelor's degrees.
Job Requirements
The educational requirements vary for health tech occupations. Some entry-level assistant positions may require only a high school diploma, however certification or an associate degree or a bachelor's degree is required for most positions. Most healthcare workers are required to have some type of licensure or certification related to their specialty. In specializations that do not require certifications, employers usually prefer to hire certified health technicians.
Nature of Work
- Analyze technical information and provide a summary of their technical findings to doctors
- Provide treatments to patients
- Construct, fit, repair and maintain medical and surgical appliances
- Explain testing procedures and results to patients
Health Techs Jobs and Outlook
Many of the health tech occupations are projected to have faster than average job growth.
The major employers of health techs are shown below:
- Hospitals
- Medical clinics
Job Numbers and Growth Nationally, there are 79,000 health techs. The occupation is characterized by a very low joblessness level. The unemployment rate for employees was 2% in 2008. Area Job Conditions Looking at health techs per capita, Monroe (Michigan), Pueblo (Colorado), and Muskegon (Michigan) rise to the top of the list. Hartford (Connecticut), Greensboro (North Carolina), and Atlanta (Georgia) have the fewest per capita. The highest salaries for workers are in and around Kennewick (Washington), Nashville (Tennessee), and Bremerton (Washington). The lowest-paying areas are Fort Smith (Arkansas), Houma (Louisiana), and Cedar Rapids (Iowa). Training and Education Successful employees find it useful to have a postsecondary vocational award. According to recent surveys, 27% of health techs had received a degree. Workers with some schooling beyond high school, but not a college degree, total about 45%. A high school degree was all that was needed for 28% of employees. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career. Part-Time Work and Self-Employment Health techs working less than full time, whether by design or chance, were 15% of the total. If you have this occupation and work on your own rather than for another company, you are part of the 7% of workers who do so.
Health Techs by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings) In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation. Alabama | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Birmingham | $34,000 | 220 | -16% | | Dothan | $43,000 | 100 | +275% | | Huntsville | $29,000 | 50 | -51% | | Mobile | $29,000 | 60 | -32% | | Montgomery | $32,000 | 80 | -3% |
Alaska | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Anchorage | $52,000 | 150 | +94% |
Arizona | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Phoenix | $40,000 | 370 | -61% |
Arkansas | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Fayetteville | $34,000 | 140 | +46% | | Fort Smith | $25,000 | 150 | +170% | | Little Rock | $35,000 | 380 | +126% |
California | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Bakersfield | $35,000 | 70 | -46% | | Fresno | $54,000 | 150 | -9% | | Merced | $33,000 | 50 | +97% | | Modesto | $40,000 | 170 | +115% | | Oakland | $54,000 | 420 | -19% | | Oxnard | $45,000 | 300 | +104% | | Riverside | $44,000 | 940 | +46% | | Sacramento | $48,000 | 680 | +52% | | Salinas | $43,000 | 50 | -33% | | San Diego | $51,000 | 740 | +9% | | San Francisco | $50,000 | 540 | +7% | | San Jose | $55,000 | 770 | +66% | | Santa Ana | $51,000 | 810 | +5% | | Santa Rosa | $52,000 | 60 | -33% | | Vallejo | $47,000 | 80 | +39% |
Colorado | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Boulder | $38,000 | 90 | +16% | | Colorado Springs | $30,000 | 220 | +78% | | Denver | $40,000 | 620 | -2% | | Fort Collins | $36,000 | 70 | +23% | | Pueblo | $37,000 | 150 | +534% |
Connecticut | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Bridgeport | $42,000 | 100 | -54% | | Hartford | $49,000 | 80 | -72% | | Waterbury | $49,000 | 40 | +30% |
Delaware | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Wilmington | $49,000 | 60 | -63% |
District of Columbia | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Washington | $38,000 | 800 | -32% |
Florida | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Cape Coral | $35,000 | 90 | -12% | | Fort Lauderdale | $45,000 | 480 | +30% | | Gainesville | $39,000 | 160 | +196% | | Jacksonville | $34,000 | 540 | +78% | | Lakeland | $33,000 | 120 | +27% | | Miami | $37,000 | 630 | +26% | | Ocala | $40,000 | 50 | +14% | | Orlando | $32,000 | 460 | -13% | | Palm Bay | $45,000 | 170 | +78% | | Pensacola | $37,000 | 110 | +54% | | Sarasota | $39,000 | 210 | +63% | | Sebastian | $37,000 | 40 | +90% | | Tallahassee | $44,000 | 60 | -23% | | Tampa | $38,000 | 910 | +48% | | West Palm Beach | $37,000 | 360 | +34% |
Georgia | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Atlanta | $43,000 | 290 | -76% | | Augusta | $43,000 | 90 | -10% |
Hawaii | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Honolulu | $48,000 | 310 | +42% |
Idaho | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Lewiston | | 30 | +225% |
Illinois | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Champaign | $41,000 | 120 | +176% | | Chicago | $40,000 | 4,510 | +133% | | Rockford | $41,000 | 150 | +106% | | Springfield | $45,000 | 180 | +274% |
Indiana | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Fort Wayne | $34,000 | 30 | -71% | | Indianapolis | $35,000 | 830 | +84% |
Iowa | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $25,000 | 100 | +56% | | Des Moines | $38,000 | 90 | -45% | | Waterloo | $38,000 | 110 | +179% |
Kentucky | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Louisville | $41,000 | 350 | +13% |
Louisiana | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Baton Rouge | $33,000 | 300 | +64% | | Houma | $26,000 | 110 | +150% | | Lafayette | $31,000 | 100 | +45% | | New Orleans | $39,000 | 360 | +41% | | Shreveport | $35,000 | 70 | -17% |
Maine | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Bangor | $53,000 | 50 | +74% | | Portland | $39,000 | 50 | -49% |
Maryland | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Baltimore | $43,000 | 800 | +21% | | Bethesda | $59,000 | 240 | -16% |
Massachusetts | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Boston | $48,000 | 540 | -38% | | Springfield | $39,000 | 120 | -19% | | Worcester | $37,000 | 120 | -1% |
Michigan | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Battle Creek | $33,000 | 110 | +418% | | Detroit | $42,000 | 510 | +43% | | Flint | $45,000 | 170 | +161% | | Holland | $44,000 | 140 | +195% | | Jackson | $40,000 | 50 | +119% | | Kalamazoo | $49,000 | 190 | +193% | | Lansing | $35,000 | 230 | +146% | | Monroe | $37,000 | 150 | +790% | | Muskegon | $45,000 | 170 | +533% |
Minnesota | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Duluth | $39,000 | 160 | +165% | | Minneapolis | $49,000 | 590 | -35% |
Mississippi | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Jackson | $47,000 | 40 | -68% |
Missouri | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Columbia | $37,000 | 60 | +60% | | Kansas City | $36,000 | 370 | -29% | | Springfield | $36,000 | 50 | -47% | | St Louis | $38,000 | 470 | -31% |
Montana | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Billings | $40,000 | 90 | +143% |
Nebraska | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Omaha | $37,000 | 190 | -18% |
Nevada | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Las Vegas | $48,000 | 400 | -14% | | Reno | $37,000 | 260 | +157% |
New Hampshire | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Manchester | $40,000 | 100 | +104% | | Nashua | $42,000 | 60 | -9% | | Rochester | $49,000 | 120 | +376% |
New Jersey | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Atlantic City | $42,000 | 70 | -1% | | Camden | $42,000 | 510 | +92% | | Edison | $47,000 | 410 | -21% | | Newark | $53,000 | 1,030 | +102% | | Trenton | $37,000 | 150 | +43% | | Vineland | $46,000 | 30 | +18% |
New Mexico | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Albuquerque | $42,000 | 80 | -59% |
New York | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Albany | $38,000 | 310 | +42% | | Buffalo | $44,000 | 190 | -30% | | Nassau | $47,000 | 650 | +2% | | New York | $47,000 | 2,560 | -1% | | Poughkeepsie | $45,000 | 120 | +2% | | Rochester | $34,000 | 290 | +16% | | Syracuse | $42,000 | 100 | -35% | | Utica | $37,000 | 70 | +16% |
North Carolina | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Asheville | $46,000 | 140 | +62% | | Charlotte | $37,000 | 150 | -66% | | Durham | $48,000 | 750 | +457% | | Fayetteville | $53,000 | 100 | +74% | | Greensboro | $42,000 | 50 | -73% | | Jacksonville | $31,000 | 40 | +130% | | Raleigh | $51,000 | 270 | +5% | | Wilmington | $41,000 | 110 | +59% | | Winston Salem | $51,000 | 110 | +5% |
Ohio | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Akron | $39,000 | 340 | +103% | | Canton | $38,000 | 210 | +151% | | Cincinnati | $40,000 | 860 | +64% | | Cleveland | $40,000 | 1,270 | +137% | | Columbus | $39,000 | 500 | +6% | | Dayton | $37,000 | 400 | +106% | | Lima | $34,000 | 50 | +117% | | Sandusky | $38,000 | 40 | +170% | | Toledo | $37,000 | 370 | +139% | | Youngstown | $42,000 | 300 | +162% |
Oklahoma | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Oklahoma City | $35,000 | 250 | -12% |
Oregon | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Bend | $37,000 | 80 | +159% | | Eugene | $37,000 | 110 | +54% | | Medford | $35,000 | 80 | +106% | | Portland | $44,000 | 750 | +43% | | Salem | $40,000 | 140 | +95% |
Pennsylvania | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Allentown | $37,000 | 190 | +13% | | Harrisburg | $48,000 | 170 | +9% | | Lancaster | $37,000 | 140 | +21% | | Philadelphia | $43,000 | 550 | -42% | | Pittsburgh | $37,000 | 550 | -4% | | Scranton | $40,000 | 50 | -60% |
Rhode Island | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Providence | $45,000 | 370 | +30% |
South Carolina | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Charleston | $30,000 | 230 | +60% | | Columbia | $34,000 | 160 | -8% | | Greenville | $26,000 | 100 | -34% |
Tennessee | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Chattanooga | $55,000 | 120 | +5% | | Knoxville | $52,000 | 120 | -28% | | Memphis | $49,000 | 250 | -20% | | Nashville | $55,000 | 460 | +19% |
Texas | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Abilene | $30,000 | 160 | +478% | | Beaumont | $33,000 | 70 | -7% | | Dallas | $38,000 | 1,220 | +15% | | El Paso | $38,000 | 180 | +39% | | Fort Worth | $39,000 | 280 | -36% | | Houston | $37,000 | 640 | -51% | | Killeen | $41,000 | 90 | +60% | | Longview | | 30 | -31% | | Lubbock | | 120 | +110% | | Mcallen | $30,000 | 180 | +69% | | San Antonio | $38,000 | 280 | -34% | | Texarkana | $31,000 | 40 | +67% |
Utah | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Salt Lake City | $36,000 | 150 | -52% |
Vermont | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Burlington | $50,000 | 40 | -22% |
Virginia | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Charlottesville | $29,000 | 130 | +201% | | Richmond | $30,000 | 530 | +76% | | Roanoke | $27,000 | 180 | +138% | | Virginia Beach | $33,000 | 640 | +68% |
Washington | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Bellingham | $40,000 | 60 | +65% | | Bremerton | $61,000 | 60 | +58% | | Kennewick | $66,000 | 190 | +361% | | Olympia | $42,000 | 40 | -7% | | Seattle | $51,000 | 1,330 | +83% | | Spokane | $49,000 | 180 | +77% | | Tacoma | $50,000 | 130 | -2% | | Yakima | $41,000 | 50 | +37% |
West Virginia | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Huntington | $39,000 | 60 | +13% |
Wisconsin | City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|
| Appleton | $38,000 | 80 | +49% | | Eau Claire | $50,000 | 140 | +301% | | Green Bay | $44,000 | 80 | 0% | | Milwaukee | $47,000 | 750 | +75% | | Oshkosh | $41,000 | 40 | +4% |
Salary and employment data obtained from the United States Department of Labor. Individual salaries depend on location, education and career background. Thanks to CityTownInfo.com for this health tech schools and jobs info.
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