What Do EKG Technicians Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for ekg technicians?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what ekg technicians do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
EKG Technicians Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about ekg technicians by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
EKG Technicians assess, plan, or implement fitness programs that include exercise or physical activities such as those designed to improve cardiorespiratory function, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, or flexibility.
Popular Job Titles For EKG Technicians
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Exercise Physiologists
- Clinical Exercise Physiologists
- Exercise Specialists
- Participant Assistants
- Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Interns
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Interns
- Registered Behavior Technicians
- Physiologists
- Patient Navigators
- Harvest Enologists
- Artificial Intelligence Managers
- Life Insurance Sales Agents
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for ekg technicians can be found.
Best Industries for EKG Technicians
EKG Technicians Jobs By Industry
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 60.8%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 9.7%
- Offices of Physicians: 6.7%
- Federal Government, Civilian: 4.7%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 4.7%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 3.1%
- Other: 10.3%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of ekg technicians can be found working in the General Medical and Surgical Hospitals sector. In 2022, about 60.8% of all jobs for ekg technicians were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Offices of Other Health Practitioners (9.7%), Offices of Physicians (6.7%), Federal Government, Civilian (4.7%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (4.7%) and Education and Hospitals (State Government) (3.1%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for EKG Technicians
The B.S. Exercise Science major provides a clear path to a rewarding career helping individuals realize their health and fitness goals. You’ll learn to evaluate fitness levels, design results-oriented exercise programs and apply coaching methodologies to help your clients reach their full potential.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Certificates & Microcredentials for EKG Technicians
Learn to help diagnose and test for cardiovascular issues in this online, comprehensive program that prepares you for the Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 2-3 months
- Cost: $2,000
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $4,000
What Do EKG Technicians Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what ekg technicians do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work ekg technicians do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that ekg technicians tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for ekg technicians, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's EKG Technicians
Based on 4,075 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for EKG Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiology | 3,339 | 82% |
| Exercise Science | 1,660 | 41% |
| Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation | 1,597 | 39% |
| Electrocardiography | 1,220 | 30% |
| Rehabilitation | 1,163 | 29% |
Top 5 Common Skills for EKG Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 1,143 | 28% |
| Management | 659 | 16% |
| Research | 523 | 13% |
| Leadership | 417 | 10% |
| Teaching | 399 | 10% |
Based on 4,075 job postings related to ekg technicians, exercise physiology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 82% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for exercise science, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, electrocardiography, rehabilitation and medical prescription were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for ekg technicians, followed by management, research, leadership, teaching and customer service.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiology | 3,339 | 82% |
| Exercise Science | 1,660 | 41% |
| Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation | 1,597 | 39% |
| Electrocardiography | 1,220 | 30% |
| Rehabilitation | 1,163 | 29% |
| Medical Prescription | 1,020 | 25% |
| Exercise Prescription | 918 | 23% |
| Exercise Programs | 901 | 22% |
| Cardiac Stress Testing | 877 | 22% |
| Kinesiology | 751 | 18% |
| Pulmonary Rehabilitation | 733 | 18% |
| Health Risk Assessments | 678 | 17% |
| Exercise Testing | 653 | 16% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 612 | 15% |
| Cardiology | 611 | 15% |
| Treatment Planning | 547 | 13% |
| Physiology | 462 | 11% |
| Blood Pressure | 448 | 11% |
| Exercise Therapy | 406 | 10% |
| Vital Signs | 390 | 10% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 1,143 | 28% |
| Management | 659 | 16% |
| Research | 523 | 13% |
| Leadership | 417 | 10% |
| Teaching | 399 | 10% |
| Customer Service | 384 | 9% |
| Planning | 376 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 351 | 9% |
| Computer Literacy | 316 | 8% |
| Writing | 295 | 7% |
| Scheduling | 289 | 7% |
| Coordinating | 288 | 7% |
| Coaching | 255 | 6% |
| Operations | 254 | 6% |
| Critical Thinking | 234 | 6% |
| Problem Solving | 218 | 5% |
| Detail Oriented | 217 | 5% |
| Lifting Ability | 208 | 5% |
| Self-Motivation | 188 | 5% |
| Professionalism | 178 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for EKG Technicians
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists | 7,949 | 78.6% |
| Clinical Exercise Physiologists | 810 | 8% |
| Exercise Specialists | 485 | 4.8% |
| Participant Assistants | 49 | 0.5% |
| Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Interns | 82 | 0.8% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was exercise physiologists, with 2,733 unique job postings. Clinical exercise physiologists were second, with 171 postings, followed by exercise specialists, participant assistants and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation interns.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to ekg technicians.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists | 7,949 | 78.6% |
| Clinical Exercise Physiologists | 810 | 8% |
| Exercise Specialists | 485 | 4.8% |
| Participant Assistants | 49 | 0.5% |
| Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Interns | 82 | 0.8% |
| Cardiac Rehabilitation Interns | 81 | 0.8% |
| Registered Behavior Technicians | 80 | 0.8% |
| Physiologists | 136 | 1.3% |
| Patient Navigators | 161 | 1.6% |
| Harvest Enologists | 31 | 0.3% |
| Artificial Intelligence Managers | 53 | 0.5% |
| Life Insurance Sales Agents | 23 | 0.2% |
| Cardiopulmonary Specialists | 28 | 0.3% |
| Electrophysiology Technicians | 20 | 0.2% |
| Community Mentors | 22 | 0.2% |
| Regulatory Oversight Managers | 31 | 0.3% |
| Cardiology Physicians | 14 | 0.1% |
| Cardiovascular Technologists | 23 | 0.2% |
| Cardiovascular Physician Assistants | 18 | 0.2% |
| Lifestyle Managers | 22 | 0.2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for ekg technicians? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for ekg technicians.
How much do ekg technicians make?
EKG Technicians: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.