The work of dialysis technicians allows kidney patients to continue enjoying life.
Renal dialysis technicians are also known as hemodialysis technicians and dialysis patient care technicians. These techs perform regular treatment procedures for patients in kidney failure, keeping these people alive and able to continue with their daily activities. The average salary of a dialysis technician in California is generally higher than the national average for this occupation.
Geography
Salaries for dialysis technicians in California vary by location. Dialysis technicians in Redding, for instance, earn a median salary of about $31,960 per year in 2011, while those in San Jose make a median pay rate of $39,600 per year, according to Salary.com. Dialysis technicians in Sacramento have a median annual pay rate of $35,120, in San Diego $35,560, in Oxnard $35,670, in Monterey $35,770 and in Los Angeles $36,400. The median nationwide salary of a dialysis technician is $32,690 per year.
Salary Range
Dialysis technicians in the middle 50 percent of the earnings scale for this group of California cities have an annual salary of $29,150 to $45,240 per year. The bottom 10 percent are earning less than $26,610 per year, and the top 10 percent have annual salaries higher than $50,380. Nationwide, the middle 50-percent range for dialysis technicians is $29,830 to $37,350. The bottom 10 percent make less than $27,220, and the top 10 percent more than $41,590 per year.
Benefits
The job search website Indeed.com listed numerous job openings for dialysis technicians throughout California in February 2011. Some required working rotating shifts, weekends and holidays. Although the listings generally did not provide salary information, they indicated that dialysis technicians can expect to receive benefit packages including medical, dental and vision insurance coverage; short- and long-term disability benefits; life insurance; paid time off for personal days, vacations and holidays; and a 401(k) employer-matched savings plan.
Qualifications
California requires dialysis technicians to be state-certified. The candidate for certification must have a high school diploma or equivalent, and must have completed a training program approved by the California Department of Public Health. She also must pass a state exam or a national exam accepted by the state of California. Some employers require national certification by a professional organization as well, as shown by the job listings at Indeed.com. In addition, some employers prefer their dialysis technicians to be a certified nurse assistant, certified medical assistant, certified phlebotomist or emergency medical technician. Another occasional preference from employers is an associate's degree in a health, science or medical electronics field.
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