Medical Technician Careers

A variety of exciting career opportunities await trained medical technicians. Specialists in the medical technician field include X-ray technicians, ultrasound technicians, radiographers, and more.

If you are interested in a medical technician career with a good salary and opportunity for advancement, consider some of the following medical technician career options.

• Pharmacy Technician
• X-Ray Technician
• Radiology Technician
• Veterinary Technician
• Ultrasound Technician
• Surgical Technician
• Phlebotomist (Phlebotomy Lab Tech)

Career Prerequisites - Medical Technician

All medical technicians share some common areas of study, including medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and medical ethics. Upon completion of these pre-requisites, medical tech students pursue specialized training in a chosen field.

Some medical technicians enter the profession with a high school diploma; however, this is not the norm. Employers generally prefer technicians with higher degrees of training. An associate's degree from a community college or medical technician school is required for most specialities. In some instances, a bachelor's degree is considered a reasonable qualification. Individuals must be well qualified to advance in their medical technician career.

Salary Forecast - Medical Technician

Job opportunities are good for medical technicians, particularly those interested in ultrasound and X-ray tech careers. As the baby-boomer generation approaches retirement age, the healthcare industry is experiencing a period of rapid growth. Advances in medical technology and higher quality-of-life expectations are driving demand for medical services and medical technicians.

Although salaries vary according to technician category, the average medical technician salary is good. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, salaries generally average around $35,000. Promotion usually depends on experience and qualifications.