Career Trends: Medical Equipment Repairers

Medical equipment repairers install, maintain, and repair patient care equipment.

Although medical equipment repairers usually work during the day, they are sometimes expected to be on call, including evenings and weekends. Because repairing vital medical equipment is urgent, the work is sometimes stressful. Those who work in a patient-caring environment are potentially exposed to diseases and other health risks.

Employers generally prefer candidates who have an associate’s degree in biomedical technology or engineering. Depending on the area of specialization, repairers may need a bachelor’s degree, especially for advancement.

Employment of medical equipment repairers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Greater demand for healthcare services and the use of increasingly complex medical equipment will drive employment growth. Those who have an associate’s degree in biomedical equipment technology or engineering should have the best job opportunities. 

This occupation supported 42,300 jobs in 2012 and 48,000 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 13.5%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 30.3% in 2022 to 55,100 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 44,800, compared with an observed value of 48,000, 7.1% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 6.9% in 2024 to 50,900 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 57,600 jobs for 2024, 13.2% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.