Contents
Schools and Education
What’s Needed:
- An associate’s degree in biomedical equipment technology engineering or electronics is a requirement for most medical equipment repairers.
- Attending schools for training in more complex equipment is often necessary but employers may supply this particularly equipment manufacturers.
- Ongoing education is vital for these specialists as biomedical equipment becomes more sophisticated.
- For some technicians military service provides an education in biomedical equipment technology.
What you study:
Whether through a university on-the-job learning or military training the course of study for biomedical equipment specialists typically includes:
- Mechanical engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Electronics
- Computer-aided design
- Human anatomy and physiology
What courses you’ll take:
Below are examples of courses that you’ll likely take as a medical equipment technician student.
| Course | Studies | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Vocabulary | Learning and understanding basic medical terminology as it applies to biomedical equipment. Prefixes suffixes plurals and abbreviations used to create terms are studied. | Foundation knowledge for understanding equipment technology and communicating with colleagues. |
| Physiology | Underlying physiological principles involved in interfaces between biomedical equipment and patient. Focus on cells nervous muscular circulatory and respiratory systems. | Core knowledge needed for understanding of advanced equipment technology coursework. |
| Biomedical Circuits and Devices | Understanding of underlying electronics as related to equipment design and operation. Emphasizes individual digital circuitry such as those for amplifiers and switching. | Provide fundamental understanding of equipment circuitry electronics to set groundwork for advanced repair topics. |
| Biomedical Electronic Systems ? Basic | Basic science and technology principles behind the measurement of physiological events. An understanding of principles behind electrodes transducers amplifiers and monitoring systems is given. | Give students basic equipment and electronics knowledge needed to be able to repair and calibrate a wide range of biomedical equipment. |
| Biomedical Electronic Systems ? Advanced | More advanced studies cover measurements for cardiology laboratories and radiology. Operation and maintenance of specific types of equipment are covered such as those used in respiratory therapy physical therapy surgery ultrasound and nuclear medicine. These courses typically include time in a lab to provide hands-on experience in applying studied concepts. | Through advanced topics and lab work fully prepare students for taking on clinical rotations and then a job in industry. Also this coursework is often intended to ready students to take certification tests available from the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). |
| Clinical Study / Externship | Work experience at a hospital clinic equipment maker service center or lab. | Bridge a student’s classroom knowledge and skills with real-world problem solving. Also give students the experience that will help them land a job in the field. |
| Hospital and Patient Safety | Problem solving of equipment related safety issues. Consideration of risk management and safety programs from the perspective of electrical safety. Relevant electrical standards and codes. | Ready students to apply safe practices in their daily work. |
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Video Overview
A quick intro into the work of medical equipment repair techs. Created for the US Dept. of Labor.
Certifications and Licensing
Although most states do not currently require certification earning certification in various specialties can open more job opportunities for medical equipment repairers. The AAMI certifies specialists in general biomedical equipment technology as well as specializations in radiology equipment and laboratory equipment.
Job Flexibility
Full-time versus part-time:
Most medical equipment repair specialists work full-time but for those who are self-employed hours may be more flexible. Most days are typical eight-hour shifts unless the specialist offers emergency service. Midnight calls are not common but they do happen especially for technicians who work directly for large hospitals.
Work location:
The profession provides opportunities for those who prefer to travel as well as for those who like to remain in one place. Self-employed technicians and those who work for manufacturers typically travel often; repair personnel who work for major hospitals and health centers generally stay on premises.
Recommended Websites
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Equipment Repairers – Visitors to this site will get a broad overview of what medical equipment repair specialists do and the projected demand for the profession. It is an excellent first stop for anyone considering becoming a biomedical equipment technician.
- Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation – This non-profit organization’s site focuses on technological advances in medicine for doctors nurses biomedical engineers researchers and technicians. Because it spans so many disciplines the AAMI site is a wealth of information for prospective medical equipment repairers who also have an interest in other areas of medicine or engineering. A blog and forums with numerous active discussion groups can also be excellent resources for repair specialists.
- The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) – A trade association that leads the effort to advance medical technology in order to achieve healthier lives and healthier economies around the world. AdvaMed’s membership has reached over 400 members and more than 80 employees with a global presence
Salaries by City
See typical salaries and ranges for this career below Shift click to sort by more than one column — for example first shift-click on state and then shift-click on salary to find best and worst salaries in each state.
| State | City / Region | Typical Salary | Salary Range | Job Count | % of All Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK | Anchorage | $59420 | $42K – $90K | 120 | 0.07% |
| AL | Birmingham – Hoover | $45000 | $32K – $81K | 200 | 0.04% |
| AL | Mobile | $43440 | $32K – $74K | 90 | 0.05% |
| AL | Montgomery | $48220 | $32K – $59K | 30 | 0.02% |
| AL | Tuscaloosa | $37240 | $22K – $65K | 30 | 0.04% |
| AR | Little Rock – North Little Rock – Conway | $34050 | $27K – $47K | 110 | 0.03% |
| AZ | Phoenix – Mesa – Glendale | $49530 | $31K – $70K | 300 | 0.02% |
| AZ | Tucson | $48400 | $29K – $85K | 50 | 0.01% |
| CA | Bakersfield – Delano | $ | $29K – $66K | 50 | 0.02% |
| CA | Fresno | $56870 | $41K – $74K | 40 | 0.01% |
| CA | Los Angeles – Long Beach – Glendale (Metro Area) | $51120 | $33K – $73K | 580 | 0.02% |
| CA | Modesto | $45650 | $33K – $74K | 50 | 0.03% |
| CA | Oakland – Fremont – Hayward (Metro Area) | $48850 | $35K – $74K | 120 | 0.01% |
| CA | Oxnard – Thousand Oaks – Ventura | $41420 | $28K – $71K | 50 | 0.02% |
| CA | Riverside – San Bernardino – Ontario | $45560 | $29K – $80K | 240 | 0.02% |
| CA | Sacramento – Arden – Arcade – Roseville | $53960 | $24K – $73K | 380 | 0.05% |
| CA | San Diego – Carlsbad – San Marcos | $50820 | $34K – $78K | 250 | 0.02% |
| CA | San Francisco – San Mateo – Redwood City (Metro Area) | $52750 | $36K – $76K | 100 | 0.01% |
| CA | San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara | $66340 | $49K – $85K | 320 | 0.04% |
| CA | Santa Ana – Anaheim – Irvine (Metro Area) | $55700 | $31K – $76K | 600 | 0.04% |
| CA | Stockton | $30710 | $26K – $66K | 60 | 0.03% |
| CO | Boulder | $46640 | $29K – $74K | 70 | 0.04% |
| CO | Colorado Springs | $39410 | $28K – $68K | 40 | 0.02% |
| CO | Denver – Aurora – Broomfield | $42270 | $31K – $65K | 490 | 0.04% |
| CO | Fort Collins – Loveland | $47820 | $22K – $70K | 50 | 0.04% |
| CT | Bridgeport – Stamford – Norwalk | $51300 | $22K – $84K | 70 | 0.02% |
| CT | Hartford – West Hartford – East Hartford | $48940 | $36K – $82K | 70 | 0.01% |
| CT | New Haven | $52880 | $35K – $72K | 100 | 0.04% |
| DC | Washington – Arlington – Alexandria (Metro Area) | $52110 | $32K – $73K | 250 | 0.01% |
| DE | Wilmington (Metro Area) | N/A | N/A – N/A | 60 | 0.02% |
| FL | Cape Coral – Fort Myers | $30590 | $25K – $49K | 60 | 0.03% |
| FL | Fort Lauderdale – Pompano Beach – Deerfield Beach (Metro Area) | $43990 | $27K – $88K | 340 | 0.05% |
| FL | Gainesville | $44560 | $28K – $69K | 90 | 0.08% |
| FL | Jacksonville | $33190 | $25K – $38K | N/A | N/A |
| FL | Miami – Miami Beach – Kendall (Metro Area) | $41310 | $21K – $71K | 230 | 0.02% |
| FL | Naples – Marco Island | $44950 | $31K – $67K | N/A | N/A |
| FL | Orlando – Kissimmee – Sanford | $40940 | $25K – $81K | 250 | 0.02% |
| FL | Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville | $57820 | $35K – $76K | 60 | 0.03% |
| FL | Port St. Lucie | $29630 | $25K – $47K | 40 | 0.03% |
| FL | Tallahassee | $61660 | $50K – $75K | N/A | N/A |
| FL | Tampa – St. Petersburg – Clearwater | $41520 | $28K – $60K | 650 | 0.06% |
| FL | West Palm Beach – Boca Raton – Boynton Beach (Metro Area) | $30750 | $25K – $52K | N/A | N/A |
| GA | Atlanta – Sandy Springs – Marietta | $42140 | $27K – $63K | 270 | 0.01% |
| GA | Augusta – Richmond County | $34190 | $26K – $47K | 40 | 0.02% |
| HI | Honolulu | $65770 | $38K – $78K | 30 | 0.01% |
| IA | Des Moines – West Des Moines | $44800 | $33K – $67K | 140 | 0.04% |
| ID | Boise City – Nampa | $50950 | $35K – $60K | 170 | 0.06% |
| ID | Coeur d’Alene ID | $42360 | $23K – $71K | 30 | 0.06% |
| IL | Chicago – Joliet – Naperville (Metro Area) | $38280 | $25K – $69K | 900 | 0.02% |
| IL | Lake County – Kenosha County (Metro Area) | $41140 | $28K – $71K | N/A | N/A |
| IL | Springfield | $38260 | $32K – $59K | 40 | 0.04% |
| IN | Evansville | $35010 | $23K – $66K | 70 | 0.04% |
| IN | Fort Wayne | $43110 | $31K – $61K | 110 | 0.06% |
| IN | Gary (Metro Area) | $37320 | $28K – $71K | 80 | 0.03% |
| IN | Indianapolis – Carmel | $37670 | $23K – $67K | 690 | 0.08% |
| IN | South Bend – Mishawaka | $49410 | $29K – $71K | 40 | 0.04% |
| KS | Wichita | $26580 | $21K – $63K | N/A | N/A |
| KY | Bowling Green | $28230 | $25K – $41K | 40 | 0.06% |
| KY | Lexington – Fayette | $31340 | $22K – $58K | 200 | 0.08% |
| KY | Louisville – Jefferson County | $43060 | $22K – $71K | 300 | 0.05% |
| LA | Baton Rouge | $41010 | $22K – $71K | 70 | 0.02% |
| LA | New Orleans – Metairie – Kenner | $42960 | $24K – $68K | N/A | N/A |
| MA | Boston – Cambridge – Quincy (Metro Area) | $46420 | $32K – $72K | 430 | 0.03% |
| MA | Haverhill – North Andover – Amesbury (Metro Area) | $44870 | $29K – $70K | 30 | 0.04% |
| MA | Lowell – Billerica – Chelmsford (Metro Area) | $45550 | $34K – $71K | 60 | 0.05% |
| MA | Worcester | $47370 | $31K – $62K | 80 | 0.03% |
| MD | Baltimore – Towson | $47960 | $32K – $72K | 420 | 0.03% |
| MD | Bethesda – Rockville – Frederick (Metro Area) | $47350 | $34K – $85K | 180 | 0.03% |
| MD | Hagerstown – Martinsburg | $43000 | $23K – $66K | 40 | 0.04% |
| ME | Portland – South Portland – Biddeford | $52650 | $36K – $90K | 60 | 0.03% |
| MI | Detroit – Livonia – Dearborn (Metro Area) | $41610 | $30K – $58K | 100 | 0.01% |
| MI | Flint | $41760 | $28K – $58K | 50 | 0.04% |
| MI | Grand Rapids – Wyoming | $37340 | $24K – $63K | 100 | 0.03% |
| MI | Kalamazoo – Portage | $35700 | $24K – $57K | 110 | 0.08% |
| MI | Lansing – East Lansing | $49260 | $33K – $62K | 70 | 0.04% |
| MI | Warren – Troy – Farmington Hills (Metro Area) | $44840 | $26K – $72K | 260 | 0.02% |
| MN | Minneapolis – St. Paul – Bloomington | $53820 | $37K – $75K | 790 | 0.05% |
| MN | Rochester | $48500 | $40K – $86K | 230 | 0.23% |
| MO | Columbia | $45590 | $28K – $59K | 30 | 0.04% |
| MO | Kansas City | $38560 | $27K – $60K | 380 | 0.04% |
| MO | Springfield | $26070 | $20K – $38K | 90 | 0.05% |
| MO | St. Louis | $40370 | $27K – $60K | 540 | 0.04% |
| MS | Jackson | $42110 | $31K – $57K | 80 | 0.03% |
| MT | Billings | $36920 | $28K – $67K | 40 | 0.05% |
| NC | Charlotte – Gastonia – Rock Hill | $44250 | $31K – $65K | 370 | 0.04% |
| NC | Durham – Chapel Hill | $50180 | $34K – $69K | 140 | 0.05% |
| NC | Greensboro – High Point | $46420 | $33K – $89K | 110 | 0.03% |
| NC | Hickory – Lenoir – Morganton | $49580 | $24K – $61K | 40 | 0.03% |
| NC | Raleigh – Cary | $60510 | $40K – $74K | 120 | 0.02% |
| NC | Winston – Salem | $50980 | $39K – $83K | 80 | 0.04% |
| NE | Lincoln | $36630 | $31K – $59K | N/A | N/A |
| NE | Omaha – Council Bluffs | $58930 | $34K – $84K | 210 | 0.05% |
| NH | Nashua (Metro Area) | $44470 | $36K – $60K | 40 | 0.03% |
| NJ | Camden (Metro Area) | $65580 | $40K – $92K | 30 | 0.01% |
| NJ | Edison – New Brunswick (Metro Area) | $54340 | $34K – $76K | 270 | 0.03% |
| NJ | Newark – Union (Metro Area) | $52440 | $34K – $81K | 180 | 0.02% |
| NM | Albuquerque | $37100 | $32K – $61K | 200 | 0.06% |
| NV | Las Vegas – Paradise | $36820 | $16K – $67K | 160 | 0.02% |
| NV | Reno – Sparks | $32050 | $21K – $70K | 90 | 0.05% |
| NY | Albany – Schenectady – Troy | $44520 | $31K – $71K | 120 | 0.03% |
| NY | Buffalo – Niagara Falls | $39,960 | $26K – $56K | 130 | 0.03% |
| NY | Nassau – Suffolk (Metro Area) | $56,640 | $28K – $75K | 360 | 0.03% |
| NY | New York – White Plains – Wayne (Metro Area) | $51,110 | $38K – $75K | 560 | 0.01% |
| NY | Poughkeepsie – Newburgh – Middletown | $51,850 | $36K – $71K | 80 | 0.03% |
| NY | Rochester | $53,400 | $32K – $76K | 160 | 0.03% |
| NY | Syracuse | $31,160 | $23K – $55K | 220 | 0.07% |
| OH | Akron | $45,460 | $27K – $68K | 90 | 0.03% |
| OH | Canton – Massillon | $35,900 | $22K – $78K | 60 | 0.03% |
| OH | Cincinnati – Middletown | $54,480 | $31K – $74K | 350 | 0.04% |
| OH | Cleveland – Elyria – Mentor | $55,860 | $33K – $76K | 510 | 0.05% |
| OH | Columbus | $50,280 | $39K – $76K | 220 | 0.02% |
| OH | Dayton | $40,360 | $26K – $62K | 70 | 0.02% |
| OH | Toledo | $45,380 | $31K – $63K | 110 | 0.04% |
| OH | Youngstown – Warren – Boardman | $46,490 | $36K – $64K | N/A | N/A |
| OK | Oklahoma City | $37,610 | $25K – $70K | 90 | 0.02% |
| OK | Tulsa | $31,180 | $23K – $41K | 120 | 0.03% |
Kellie is the content strategist for My Perfect Resume. She has more than 20 years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She has a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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