Medical Equipment Repairer Career
Medical equipment repairers are some of the most overlooked people in the healthcare system. They are responsible for making sure that the tools that doctors use to keep patients alive are kept in working order; on a given day, a medical equipment repairer may work to fix and maintain ventilators, defibrillators, x-ray machines, or electric wheelchairs. They also work to fix equipment used by dentists or eye doctors.
Although medical equipment repairers typically do not work directly with patients, they need to be comfortable working in medical settings. They also need to be prepared to communicate with doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals about their findings.
Medical Equipment Repair Career Snapshot
Medical equipment repairers may work for health stores, health equipment manufacturers or suppliers, or be employed directly by hospitals or other healthcare institutes. Medical equipment repairers often are assigned a region, and overtake responsibility for traveling throughout that region to repair equipment. Most medical equipment repairers work a standard 40 hour workweek, though they are often on-call in the event that equipment breaks down overnight or on the weekend.
Further details on a career as a medical equipment repairer are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average yearly pay for medical equipment repairers.
increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.
jobs as medical equipment repairers in the U.S. in 2014.
Medical Equipment Repairer Education
To become a medical equipment repairer, you will likely need an associate’s degree in biomedical technology or a related field. Advancing in the career and working on more sophisticated equipment may require a bachelor’s degree. However, some are able to get into the field with a high school diploma and on-the-job training.
Medical Equipment Repairer Salaries
According to BLS.gov in May 2015, the median pay for a medical equipment repairer was $46,340. The top 10 percent of earners made around $76,350, while the bottom 10 percent made $28,290 or less.
Medical Equipment Repairer Job Duties
The main part of a medical equipment repairer’s job is traveling to sites where equipment has broken down, discussing the problems with the owners, and working to find a solution to get the equipment running again. However, in some cases, a medical equipment repairer may have to work to methodically test equipment before it breaks down to make sure that it is in working order in case an emergency occurs.
Medical Equipment Repairer Job Outlook
The medical equipment repair profession is currently experiencing average growth. In 2014, the United States had 48,000 medical equipment repairers; that number is expected to grow 6 percent by 2024.
Medical Equipment Repair Skills & Traits
| Medical Equipment Repairer Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used by Medical Equipment Repairers: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Equipment Maintenance • Repairing • Troubleshooting • Operation Monitoring • Quality Control Analysis | • Finger Dexterity • Problem Sensitivity • Deductive Reasoning • Near Vision | • Precision levels • Pressure indicators • Utility knives • Ventilator accessories • Voltage meters | • Getting Information • Making Decisions • Solving Problems • Maintaining Electronic Equipment |
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