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Medical Equipment Preparers in California
Thinking about a career as a Medical Equipment Preparers in California? Below are the key facts. Prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. May perform routine laboratory tasks and operate or inspect equipment.
What do Medical Equipment Preparers Make in California?
For a medical equipment preparers working in California, the median annual wage is $62,710 per year (or about $30.15/hour).Annual wages span from $40,510 at the 10th percentile to $87,960 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,510 | $19.48 |
| 25th percentile | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| Median (50th) | $62,710 | $30.15 |
| 75th percentile | $77,860 | $37.44 |
| 90th percentile | $87,960 | $42.29 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California compared to the national average — is 1.01.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, medical equipment preparers earn a median of $30,227 per year ($14.53/hour), exceeding the California median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 997,101 medical equipment preparers across the United States. In California alone, approximately 8,630 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 890 medical equipment preparers.
Top California Metros for Medical Equipment Preparers
The largest metro-area employers of medical equipment preparers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,740 | $59,190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,120 | $81,540 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 830 | $58,180 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 720 | $76,570 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 620 | $65,340 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 500 | $78,530 |
| Fresno, CA | 280 | $48,600 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 230 | $61,410 |
| Vallejo, CA | 190 | $82,070 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 180 | $52,850 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 160 | $46,820 |
| Modesto, CA | 150 | $69,700 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 120 | $59,910 |
| Chico, CA | 90 | $51,300 |
| Salinas, CA | 90 | $60,640 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 60 | $52,220 |
| Redding, CA | 50 | $74,000 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 50 | $64,850 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 50 | $79,820 |
| Napa, CA | 40 | $78,760 |
| Yuba City, CA | 30 | $50,650 |
Top States for Medical Equipment Preparers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most medical equipment preparers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 8,630 |
| New York | 5,340 |
| Florida | 4,150 |
| Texas | 3,790 |
| Ohio | 3,210 |
| Illinois | 2,860 |
| North Carolina | 2,740 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,730 |
| Michigan | 2,550 |
| New Jersey | 2,230 |
| Arizona | 2,180 |
| Virginia | 2,040 |
| Georgia | 1,890 |
| Oregon | 1,690 |
| Washington | 1,680 |
| Massachusetts | 1,670 |
| Missouri | 1,610 |
| Colorado | 1,520 |
| Tennessee | 1,510 |
| Indiana | 1,500 |
Highest-Paying States for Medical Equipment Preparers
The highest-paying states for medical equipment preparers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $62,710 |
| District of Columbia | $54,390 |
| Delaware | $52,080 |
| Rhode Island | $51,980 |
| New York | $51,880 |
| Massachusetts | $51,610 |
| Hawaii | $51,470 |
| Washington | $51,190 |
| New Jersey | $49,090 |
| Oregon | $49,050 |
Skills
The most important medical equipment preparers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for medical equipment preparers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Operate and maintain steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in loads, and maintenance procedures performed.
- Clean instruments to prepare them for sterilization.
- Record sterilizer test results.
- Organize and assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies, filling special requests as needed.
- Examine equipment to detect leaks, worn or loose parts, or other indications of disrepair.
- Report defective equipment to appropriate supervisors or staff.
- Maintain records of inventory or equipment usage and order medical instruments or supplies when inventory is low.
- Stock crash carts or other medical supplies.
- Start equipment and observe gauges and equipment operation to detect malfunctions and to ensure equipment is operating to prescribed standards.
- Check sterile supplies to ensure that they are not outdated.
- Attend hospital in-service programs related to areas of work specialization.
- Disinfect and sterilize equipment, such as respirators, hospital beds, or oxygen or dialysis equipment, using sterilizers, aerators, or washers.
Work Activities
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Processing Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: eClinicalWorks EHR software, Kronos Workforce Timekeeper
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
Related Careers
Related occupations to medical equipment preparers include:
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Histotechnologists
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
Also Known As
Aseptic Technician (Aseptic Tech), Bandage Maker, Central Processing Technician (CPT), Central Service Technician (CST), Central Sterile Processing Technician (Central Sterile Processing Tech), Central Sterile Supply Technician (CSS Technician), Central Sterile Technician (Central Sterile Tech), Central Sterilization Technician, Central Supply Processing Department Technician (CSPDT), Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST), Certified Registered Central Services Technician (CRCST), Equipment Coordinator, Equipment Technician, Health Equipment Servicer, Hot Packer.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 31-9093.00
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