Prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. May perform routine laboratory tasks and operate or inspect equipment.
National median · BLS
$47,700
▲ +2.6%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$50,510
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
77,420
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Medical Equipment Preparers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$36,410
25th
$39,800
Median (50th)
$47,700
75th
$58,570
90th — top pay
$69,950
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Medical Equipment Preparers
BLS projects employment of medical equipment preparers to grow 10.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 10,700 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
79,900 → 88,600
+8,700 jobs
Projected change
+10.8%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
10,700
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
2.3% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What medical equipment preparers do
Examine equipment to detect leaks, worn or loose parts, or other indications of disrepair.
Check sterile supplies to ensure that they are not outdated.
Record sterilizer test results.
Organize and assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies, filling special requests as needed.
Operate and maintain steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in loads, and maintenance procedures performed.
Clean instruments to prepare them for sterilization.
Disinfect and sterilize equipment, such as respirators, hospital beds, or oxygen or dialysis equipment, using sterilizers, aerators, or washers.
Purge wastes from equipment by connecting equipment to water sources and flushing water through systems.
Also called
Central Sterile Technician (Central Sterile Tech)CRCST (Certified Registered Central Supply Technician)CSS Technician (Central Sterile Supply Technician)CST (Central Service Technician)Central Supply Processing Department Technician (CSPDT)Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST)Equipment Technician (Equipment Tech)Sterile Preparation Technician (Sterile Preparation Tech)Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (SPD Tech)Sterile Technician (Sterile Tech)
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Medical Equipment Preparers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $47,700.
