
If you are planning to become a patient care technician (PCT), this article will give you details about the salary range and duties of this particular job profile. It will also provide you with information about the educational requirements for a career in patient care.
Patient care technicians (PCT) are members of a medical team that takes care of patients and they are expected to be available for patient care 24×7. Along with strong interpersonal skills, a patient care technician needs to have an empathetic mind. He is expected to be extremely attentive and responsive to the patients’ needs. He needs to be composed, understanding and prompt at providing quality care to the patients. He needs to have a pedantic approach towards the patients’ needs.
Educational Qualifications
Salary by Experience
- All figures are as of May 2013, and in US Dollars.
Less than 1 year | $18,313 – $39,777 |
1-4 years | $15,866 – $42,644 |
5-9 years | $18,100 – $45,000 |
10-19 years | $23,179 – $37,340 |
20 years or more | $31,862 – $41,986 |
Source: Payscale
Salary by State
- All figures are as of March 2013, and in US Dollars.
- All figures are average annual salaries and may vary according to education, experience, location, and type of employment.
Alabama | $39,000 |
Alaska | $32,000 |
Arizona | $33,000 |
Arkansas | $38,000 |
California | $42,000 |
Colorado | $33,000 |
Connecticut | $41,000 |
Delaware | $35,000 |
Florida | $36,000 |
Georgia | $42,000 |
Hawaii | $27,000 |
Idaho | $31,000 |
Illinois | $40,000 |
Indiana | $38,000 |
Iowa | $36,000 |
Kansas | $35,000 |
Kentucky | $33,000 |
Louisiana | $32,000 |
Maine | $34,000 |
Maryland | $38,000 |
Massachusetts | $44,000 |
Michigan | $37,000 |
Minnesota | $34,000 |
Mississippi | $44,000 |
Missouri | $38,000 |
Montana | $39,000 |
Nebraska | $31,000 |
Nevada | $35,000 |
New Hampshire | $37,000 |
New Jersey | $40,000 |
New Mexico | $34,000 |
New York | $45,000 |
North Carolina | $38,000 |
North Dakota | $36,000 |
Ohio | $36,000 |
Oklahoma | $35,000 |
Oregon | $36,000 |
Pennsylvania | $33,000 |
Rhode Island | $38,000 |
South Carolina | $34,000 |
South Dakota | $29,000 |
Tennessee | $36,000 |
Texas | $36,000 |
Utah | $33,000 |
Vermont | $36,000 |
Virginia | $38,000 |
Washington | $36,000 |
West Virginia | $38,000 |
Wisconsin | $33,000 |
Wyoming | $35,000 |
Source: Indeed
Job Description
- Assisting doctors and nurses during medical examination and treatment of patients.
- Setting up the necessary therapeutic equipment and assisting in providing first aid.
- Recording and monitoring blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate of the patient and updating medical records.
- Recording, monitoring and reporting patients’ health condition to the medical authorities.
- Promptly responding to patient’s calls and requests.
- Serving and feeding meals, when the patients cannot do it themselves.
- Looking after the personal hygiene of patients by assisting them in bathing, dressing up, etc.
- Keeping the patient’s room clean, making the bed for patients, etc.
- Moving or transferring the patient from the bed to the wheelchair or assisting the patient in motion exercises and ambulation.
- Collecting and testing specimen and even performing phlebotomy.
- Cleaning and irrigating lacerations.
- Providing assistance for pelvic examinations.
You can gain experience in specific medical areas and have a specialized job profile by becoming a dialysis patient care technician, ER patient care technician, ICU patient care technician, to name a few. It can be safely concluded that the job of a PCT is rewarding. More than the salary this job offers, it’s the satisfaction that counts.