Jobs Similar to Medical Appliance Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to medical appliance technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Dental Laboratory Technicians, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians.
Medical Appliance Technicians: $48,030 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Dental Laboratory Technicians
76% similar · $49,610 (+3%) · High school · Same group
- 2Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
74% similar · $53,750 (+12%) · High school
- 3Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
74% similar · $39,460 (−18%) · High school · Same group
- 4Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
73% similar · $50,270 (+5%) · High school · Same group
- 5Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
73% similar · $51,330 (+7%) · High school
- 6Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
73% similar · $42,660 (−11%) · High school · Same group
- 7Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
72% similar · $46,330 (−4%) · High school
- 8Furniture Finishers
72% similar · $44,540 (−7%) · High school
- 9Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
72% similar · $47,180 (−2%) · High school
- 10Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
72% similar · $46,170 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 11Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
71% similar · $50,060 (+4%) · High school
- 12Tool and Die Makers
71% similar · $64,050 (+33%) · Training or associate
- 13Tire Builders
71% similar · $57,390 (+19%) · High school · Same group
- 14Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
71% similar · $46,170 (−4%) · High school · Same group
- 15Etchers and Engravers
71% similar · $43,310 (−10%) · High school · Same group
- 16Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
71% similar · $53,710 (+12%) · High school
- 17Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
71% similar · $49,030 (+2%) · High school
- 18Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
71% similar · $48,220 (0%) · High school
- 19Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
71% similar · $43,960 (−8%) · High school
- 20Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
70% similar · $74,510 (+55%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than medical appliance technicians.
- Tire Builders71% similar · $57,390 (+19%)
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers74% similar · $53,750 (+12%)
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers71% similar · $53,710 (+12%)
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters73% similar · $51,330 (+7%)
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders73% similar · $50,270 (+5%)
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners71% similar · $50,060 (+4%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for medical appliance technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Questions about jobs like medical appliance technicians
What jobs are most similar to medical appliance technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Dental Laboratory Technicians (76% similar), Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (74% similar), Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians (74% similar), Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (73% similar) and Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (73% similar).
Which jobs like medical appliance technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians ($74,510, +55%; usually training or an associate degree), Tool and Die Makers ($64,050, +33%; usually training or an associate degree) and Tire Builders ($57,390, +19%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with medical appliance technicians ($48,030). Without more preparation than medical appliance technicians usually need: Tire Builders, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Engine and Other Machine Assemblers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.