Medical Equipment Preparers
Prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. May perform routine laboratory tasks and operate or inspect equipment.
Also called: Aseptic Technician (Aseptic Tech), Central Sterile Processing Technician (Central Sterile Processing Tech), Central Sterile Technician (Central Sterile Tech), Central Sterilization Technician (Central Sterilization Tech), Central Supply Processing Department Technician (CSPDT), Central Supply Technician (Central Supply Tech)
Median pay
$47,700
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$36,410 – $69,950
People employed
77,420
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 2.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 3.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 4.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Medical Equipment Preparers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What medical equipment preparers do
- 01Examine equipment to detect leaks, worn or loose parts, or other indications of disrepair.
- 02Check sterile supplies to ensure that they are not outdated.
- 03Record sterilizer test results.
- 04Organize and assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies, filling special requests as needed.
- 05Operate and maintain steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in loads, and maintenance procedures performed.
- 06Clean instruments to prepare them for sterilization.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
- Production and Processing
- Public Safety and Security
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from medical equipment preparers
- Surgical Technologists75% · +36%
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators72% · +26%
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians71% · +56%
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians71% · +8%
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders70% · −3%
Change into medical equipment preparers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Medical Appliance Technicians72% · $48,030
- Surgical Technologists67% · $64,650
- Neurodiagnostic Technologists65% · $50,290
Majors that lead here
- Sterile Processing Technology/Technician
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.