Average salary for Patient Care Technicians [Updated for 2025]

You’re considering a career as a patient care technician, but before diving into the required training or committing to the role, there’s one big question on your mind: How much does a patient care technician actually make?

With healthcare roles in high demand because of people seeking out medical care more and more, salaries for positions like patient care techs and patient care coordinator are becoming more competitive.

Whether you’re just a fresher starting out or looking to transition from another healthcare role, understanding the salary aspect is a must for making the right career choice.

From entry-level positions to experienced roles, the numbers can vary depending on your location, education, and specialty.

But with healthcare salaries going up year by year, now might be the perfect time to find out just how much they could earn in this rewarding field.

But before we can dive into the meaty part of the topic, we first need to understand what exactly this healthcare field entails.

So, let’s first learn what exactly do patient care technicians or PCTs do.

PCTs duties and responsibilities

The day-to-day role of a PCT is quite an important one to the healthcare system, and that’s why their duties and responsibilities are quite diverse than one might assume.

For instance, one moment they’re assisting a nurse with a bed bath for a patient with mobility issues. Next, they could be collecting blood samples for lab tests.

Throughout the day, they'll be interacting with patients, offering comforting words addressing their immediate needs like helping them move from bed to chair or wheelchair, or simply provide a comforting presence to an anxious patient awaiting an operation.

Communication is a highly indispensable skill in this role. They'll be constantly communicating with nurses, doctors, and other members of the healthcare team for smooth processes throughout.

So, you see, PCTs aren’t limited to a certain role. They have some kind of role in every aspect related to patients. From having compassion to knowing the key clinical skills to understanding the technical stuff, they’re an invaluable asset to the healthcare team.

Patient Care Technician Salary + Job Outlook: How much does a PCT make?

Let’s now take a look at the salary range you can expect as a PCT:

They are key collaborators within the dental team, working closely with dentists, hygienists, and other staff members to ensure that each patient receives optimal care.

• National Average: The average annual salary for a PCT – as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2023 was $33,530. This comes out to an hourly rate of roughly $16.12 per hour – which currently in 2024 – has increased to an average of $20.25 depending on factors like location and experience.

Regional Variations

If you’re curious about how much a patient care technician makes in different states, there are some huge differences. For example:

• California, New York, and Texas tend to offer the highest wages due to the higher cost of living and larger healthcare settings.
• States like Mississippi or West Virginia, on the other hand, offer lower salaries as the cost of living isn’t that high and local demand for healthcare workers is the opposite.

Job Growth Outlook

However, despite the low wage-scenario, there is good news: The job market for PCTs is very positive, with a projected growth rate of 21% from 2023 to 2033, much higher than the average for most jobs. This means that, on average, there will be about 718,900 job openings each year, mainly due to workers retiring or moving to different careers.

Factors causing changes in PCT Salaries

Several factors can impact how much you make as a patient care tech. Let’s go over the main ones:

• Experience

As with most jobs, experience plays a big role in determining your salary. Patient care technician starting salary typically begins at the lower end, but with experience, your earning potential grows. A seasoned PCT can expect to earn much more, especially if they’ve worked in specialized areas like dialysis or cardiac care.

And if you’re certified, your chances of salary increment can be even higher. Being a certified PCT shows the added skills and responsibilities you bring to the job.

• Education & Certification

While a high school diploma or GED is enough to get started, adding certifications like patient care technician bootcamp can give a boost to a PCT’s per hour salary.

This is because becoming a certified patient care technician shows employers that you have the right skills needed to perform the type of work aimed for an individual like yourself. This extra training can result in a higher wage and open the door to more job opportunities.

• Location

Where you work also matters. Salary varies depending on the where part. For example, patient care technician salaries in major urban areas are higher than those in rural regions, due to the extravagant cost of living and demand for healthcare workers.

• Type of Employer

The type of employer you work for can also affect your pay.

Hospitals and specialized clinics offer higher salaries compared to smaller doctor’s offices or OPDs. Not only that, private healthcare settings may offer more benefits and pay than public or nonprofit healthcare providers.

Related Roles & Salaries

If you’re thinking about expanding your career in healthcare, these are some related roles you might want to look at + let’s also check how these positions compare in salary:

• Patient Care Assistant Salary: As of Dec 1, 2024, the nationwide pay for this role typically earns around $45,686 or $22/hour – of course, depending on experience and location. And as for their duties, PCAs help with daily patient needs like bathing and dressing – all under the supervision of licensed nurses.
• Patient Care Associate Salary: Patient care associates have an average pay scale of $48,702/year. Their job description entails supporting patients with basic clinical tasks like monitoring BP, heart rate, or drawing blood, while also working with the healthcare staff.
• Patient Care Coordinator Salary: This position typically earns around $42,641/year – of course, depending on experience and location. And as for their duties, PCAs help with daily patient needs like bathing and dressing – all under the supervision of licensed nurses.
• Patient Care Specialist Salary: This role is quite similar to a coordinator, but with more clinical duties. For eg., they help with treatments and manage medical equipment throughout the operations. As for the pay scale, patient care specialists earn up to $44,844 a year.

And if you’re looking to opt for a role on the technical side – as they pay much higher – you might also want to check out articles on earnings of a medical lab technician.

Hint: their average yearly salary revolves close to the $90,000 range.

Chances to increase your pay rate

As with any career, there are many ways to increase your pay scale over time. And as for patient care technicians, here are some ways to consider:

• Specialize in a particular field

Rather than being a generalist, specialize in specific areas like dialysis or EKG tech. As having specialized skills often come with higher pay and more job opportunities.

• Advanced studies

Another way to increase your earning potential is to study more, either by taking courses on attending college.

It is practical and doable as some PCTs go on to become Registered Nurses (RNs) or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs).

• Move into Management

If you wish, you can also explore management positions in healthcare. These roles offer better pay and responsibilities, especially if you have a combination of clinical experience along the way.

Conclusion

Summing up, patient care technician salaries offer a balance of decent pay and job security.

And while the exact amount you’ll earn depends on your expertise, certifications (if you have any), and where you work, it's clear that this field is growing—and the earning potential is quite strong.

That being said, if you’ve a mind to join this healthcare field, now is a great time to start with us at Quick Health Certified that includes in-depth bootcamps which are more than enough to give your career in healthcare a good start.

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