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Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians vs Pharmacy Technicians: what changes?

Consider Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians if you want to conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. Consider Pharmacy Technicians if you would rather prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. Entry credentials differ: Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, associate's degree; Pharmacy Technicians, high school diploma or equivalent.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Pharmacy Technicians. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

National median pay (2025)
$74,310
Route into the job
Associate's degree
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
3,400
Know before you choose

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

See the full Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians brief

Pharmacy Technicians

National median pay (2025)
$45,750
Route into the job
High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
44,700
Know before you choose

Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.

See the full Pharmacy Technicians brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians has the edge on median pay

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians is at $74,310, compared with $45,750 for Pharmacy Technicians.

2

Pharmacy Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Pharmacy Technicians is at 44,700 annual openings, compared with 3,400 annual openings for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians.

3

Pharmacy Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Pharmacy Technicians is at 6.4% projected growth, compared with 3.7% projected growth for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians.

54.3/ 100

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

vs
59.5/ 100

Pharmacy Technicians

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians vs Pharmacy Technicians

DimensionCardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansPharmacy Technicians
Median pay (2025)$74,310$45,750
Pay percentile63.9 percentile19.2 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)3.7%6.4%
Annual openings (2025–2035)3,40044,700
2025 employment64,500471,200
How you qualifyAssociate's degreeHigh school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 3Job Zone 3
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingBLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians briefRead Pharmacy Technicians brief

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