Occupations/31-9093.00
Medical Equipment Preparers
Prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. May perform routine laboratory tasks and operate or inspect equipment.
Usually a high school diploma, plus some experience or short training.
AI automation risk
49%
Mixed exposure
Human characteristics
67%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
82%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly human
Report defective equipment to appropriate supervisors or staff.
- Mostly routine
Operate and maintain steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in loads, and maintenance procedures performed.
- Mostly routine
Clean instruments to prepare them for sterilization.
Split from the wording of these tasks, shown next to the occupation’s AI risk. It is not a separate score for each task, and it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Operate and maintain steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in loads, and maintenance procedures performed.
- 02Clean instruments to prepare them for sterilization.
- 03Record sterilizer test results.
- 04Organize and assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies, filling special requests as needed.
- 05Examine equipment to detect leaks, worn or loose parts, or other indications of disrepair.
- 06Report defective equipment to appropriate supervisors or staff.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks4.43
- Degree of automation2.05
- Time sitting1.87
- Originality (ability)2.00
- Conflict situations3.04
- Hands-on objects/tools4.33
- Outdoors / weather1.00
- Disease exposure4.68
- Decision freedom4.03
Top abilities
- Near Vision3.88
- Problem Sensitivity3.75
- Oral Comprehension3.62
- Written Expression3.25
- Speech Recognition3.25
- Perceptual Speed3.25
- Oral Expression3.25
- Manual Dexterity3.25
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.12
- Active Listening3.25
- Writing2.88
- Speaking3.12
- Mathematics2.25
- Science1.88
- Critical Thinking3.50
- Active Learning3.00
- Learning Strategies2.75
- Monitoring3.38
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 50 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston University Boston, MA · Private nonprofit | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $65,200 | 14% | 89% | 1 yr $68,499 2 yr $52,107 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY · Public | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $10,700 | 70% | 76% | 1 yr $68,219 2 yr $70,456 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $12,600 | 48% | 84% | 1 yr $64,791 2 yr $63,355 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Private for-profit | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $18,600 | 100% | 64% | 1 yr $64,493 2 yr $67,101 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
University of Kansas Lawrence, KS · Public | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $11,400 | 88% | 67% | 1 yr $63,501 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
St Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN · Public | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $9,600 | 95% | 56% | 1 yr $63,005 2 yr $62,154 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN · Public | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $9,700 | 71% | 62% | 1 yr $62,409 2 yr $57,318 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI · Public | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $4,900 | 100% | 27% | 1 yr $61,303 2 yr $58,092 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
Winona State University Winona, MN · Public | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $10,500 | 77% | 67% | 1 yr $61,218 2 yr $64,791 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI · Public | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $4,700 | 100% | 34% | 1 yr $59,576 2 yr $58,479 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
CUNY Hunter College New York, NY · Public | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $7,400 | 48% | 60% | 1 yr $58,673 2 yr $55,693 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX · Public | Sterile Processing Technology/Technician 51.1012 | $11,700 | 31% | 88% | 1 yr $58,221 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |