About how much does a Med tech make an hour starting out?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 28, 2013

A med tech's wage is very dependent upon the city and state in which you'll be working. I can tell you how much they earn in the region where I live, but keep in mind they might earn more or less in the region where you live.

I am in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. Med techs are called 'medication aides' around here and are paid between $12 and $16 hourly. Hospitals in this area do not hire medication aides. They are mainly utilized by nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes.

mzsuccess · May 28, 2013

I live in NC, do you mind telling me how much you started out with? and which pays the most?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 28, 2013

I live in NC, do you mind telling me how much you started out with? and which pays the most?

I've never worked as a medication aide or CNA. I am relaying the wages that were paid to my coworkers who did work alongside me as medication aides.

One nursing home paid CNAs $9.50/hour and medication aides $12.00/hour. Another nursing home paid CNAs $11.50/hour and medication aides $16.00/hour. Most facilities in this area pay somewhere between $12 and $16 hourly. I do not know how much assisted living or group homes pay around here, but I know that they utilize medication aides.

BrandonLPN, LPN · May 29, 2013

Well, geez, if they're going to pay a "medication aide" $16 an hr, they might as well shell out a couple bucks more and hire a LPN....

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 30, 2013

Well, geez, if they're going to pay a "medication aide" $16 an hr, they might as well shell out a couple bucks more and hire a LPN....

I totally agree with you, BrandonLPN. I was being paid $21.50 hourly as an LPN at this exact same facility back in 2008, so there was only a $5.50/hourly difference between the medication aides and licensed nursing staff.

txERgrl79 · May 31, 2013

As an ER tech in South TX I made $13, but with shift differential (I was split **** 11a-11p), weekend diff. and OT, I only made $13 for the first few hrs, then it went to $15 and up to $21. BUT, I transferred to another hospital (same corp though) in the DFW area, tech couldn't do as much and the pay was $13...period. Yeah that hurt on the paycheck lol. So it can vary not just state to state, but hospital to hospital.

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classicdame, MSN, EdD · May 31, 2013

hospital requirements are different than other facilities. Only nurses and MD's and PA's can dispense meds in acute care facilities in Texas. No techs or medication aides.

mzsuccess · Jul 7, 2013

I'm a CNA 1 as of now and the job is a little taxing mentally and physically.

Is anyone here a med aide and do/did you like your job?

Is it as stressful as CNA. I'm in school for my Lpn then RN. But I want to get a little more experience.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 7, 2013

I'm a CNA 1 as of now and the job is a little taxing mentally and physically.
Is anyone here a med aide and do/did you like your job?
Is it as stressful as CNA. I'm in school for my Lpn then RN. But I want to get a little more experience.

To make sure I understand you, you are currently a CNA and find THAT job mentally taxing(and physically taxing as well)? But you are currently in school for LPN...and don't find that taxing mentally and physically? How is that? Certainly you can imagine that the rare places that hire medication aides expect them to keep those meds straight...while CNAs don't pass meds. How do you figure that is LESS mentally taxing?

mzsuccess · Jul 8, 2013

School is a bit much, but like I said the work i do IS taxing- my opinion. And I see alot of places hiring for med aides.

Salisburysteak, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2013

Seriously, if you cannot handle being an aide what makes you think you can handle being a nurse. Just think about it