EKG Technician vs. Medical Assistant: Roles, Skills, and Salaries

Two career paths that are similar in nature, how do you choose between the two? Despite their similarities, there are some key differences that are important to consider when exploring the role of an EKG technician or that of a Medical Assistant.

In order to find the best-suited role for your career desires, this guide will explain both roles in detail and what job opportunities are available in the current market.

From average salaries to education requirements, you should know which one is appropriate for you as a career path moving forward.

Table of Contents

• Overview of key differences between EKG technicians vs. medical assistants
• Education requirements to become an EKG tech vs medical assistant
• Skills needed to become an EKG tech vs medical assistant
• Salary differences between an EKG tech vs a medical assistant
• Job outlook for EKG tech and medical assistants

Overview of key differences between EKG technicians vs. medical assistants 

Education requirements to become an EKG tech vs medical assistant

To become an EKG technician, you'll need a high school diploma or a GED. You'll also need to complete an accredited EKG technician program which will reward you with that all-important EKG certification.

EKG technicians in training will typically experience a mixture of classroom and laboratory lessons exploring medical terminology, medical office procedures, and more. Those training will then need to pass the certification exam in order to become certified.

While medical assistants don't need a high school diploma or GED in order to explore this career field. However, they will need to complete a medical assistant program.

This program will typically include coursework that explores anatomy and physiology, medical office procedures, medical terminology, and more. The training program is very much similar to that of EKG technicians training.

Again, medical assistants in training will need to pass their certification exam (how to pass the ccma exam) in order to gain their medical assistant certification.

Skills needed to become an EKG tech vs medical assistant

The responsibilities of an EKG technician are important but so are the core skills that are needed. Both soft and hard skills are what enable a certified EKG Technician to be successful at the job. 

Here are some of the skills that EKG technicians need to possess.

• Excellent verbal and communication skills.
• Patient care.
• Medical terminology.
• Scheduling and customer service.

Medical assistants need a variety of skills within their skillset to conduct their job professionally and to the fullest success.

Along with the administrative and clinical tasks, here are some of the required skills needed for a medical assistant.

A person that's looking to become a medical assistant, will need to have good interpersonal skills. After all, you'll be one of the first people that patients are interacting with, whether that's over the phone or in person. Therefore some great interpersonal skills to have are:

• Empathy
• A positive attitude
• Good listening skills
• Communication
• Emotional intelligence
• Ability to work as a team

Salary differences between an EKG tech vs a medical assistant

When choosing between an EKG technician and a medical assistant, one of the main deciding factors is often the difference in salary. While medical assistants typically complete their training in 6-12 months, it usually takes 1-2 years to become an EKG technician. Additionally, EKG technicians tend to earn a slightly higher average salary of around $35,160, compared to the $34,900 average annual salary of medical assistants. Your location can also greatly impact these salaries.

Learn more about the highest paid medical assistant specialties to see how your career path could maximize earnings. While both roles are vital in healthcare, their training duration and salaries differ.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for cardiovascular technologists and technicians, which includes EKG technicians, was $59,410 in May 2020

 Bureau of Labor Statistics

The BLS also reports that the median annual wage for medical assistants was $36,240 in May 2020

 Bureau of Labor Statistics

Both these roles operate in various industries within the healthcare profession. If you're exploring a career path in home healthcare services vs outpatient care centers, here are a few differences that you can expect in salaries.

Again, like EKG technicians by state, there seems to be a large jump between industries when it comes to salaries in comparison to that of a medical assistant.

Job outlook for EKG tech and medical assistants

Like many healthcare professionals, the demand for them is growing. If you're looking for reasons why become an EKG technician or a medical assistant, then job security is an obvious benefit.

There are plenty of job opportunities in today's market and career advancement options for those who are looking to climb the ladder. However, you may wonder, what other jobs can medical assistants do?

Beyond their primary role, medical assistants have the potential to explore various career paths within the healthcare field. With additional training and specialization, they can pursue opportunities such as medical office manager, patient care coordinator, among others.

Moreover, medical assistants in pediatrics can focus their expertise on providing care to infants, children, and adolescents, working alongside pediatricians and other healthcare professionals to ensure the well-being of young patients. This specialization allows them to develop a deep understanding of pediatric healthcare practices and create a positive impact on the lives of children and their families.

EKG technicians can go on to become medical assistants themselves or explore the world of patient care technicians. For medical assistants, there are plenty of career paths to explore. These include becoming a registered nurse or moving up the ranks into healthcare management. 

Additionally, medical assistants often wonder about the scope of their practice and responsibilities, such as can a medical assistant do Botox? Understanding the legal limitations and required certifications is crucial for those considering this career path.