Medical equipment preparers
Prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. May perform routine laboratory tasks and operate or inspect equipment.
BLS SOC 31-9093 · O*NET-SOC 31-9093.00 · BLS 2025–2035 · O*NET 31.0
Median annual wage, 2025
$47,700
Projected change, 2025–2035
10.8%
2025–2035 annual average openings
10,700
AI exposure
Low
Editorial analysis
Automation can track every instrument. Sterility still has to be right every time.
Medical equipment preparers work in an environment where consistency matters enormously. Hospitals increasingly use tracking systems, automated washers, sterilizers, barcode or RFID systems, and software that follows instruments through processing. AI can help predict demand, identify workflow bottlenecks, and flag unusual processing patterns.
This is a process where nearly correct is not enough
An instrument must be cleaned, inspected, assembled, packaged, sterilized, and available when needed. Damage, retained material, incorrect assembly, or a missed processing step can affect patient safety. Human inspection and disciplined procedures remain important even as machines handle more of the workflow.
- Instrument tracking can become more automated and predictive.
- Computer vision may assist with inspection and identification.
- AI may help anticipate which surgical trays and supplies will be needed.
- Sterile technique, quality verification, equipment knowledge, and exception handling remain critical.
Workers in this field may increasingly operate sophisticated processing and tracking systems. Technology can reduce routine searching and paperwork, but it also raises the technical knowledge required to keep the entire sterile-processing chain reliable.
Labor-market picture
Two measures, different questions
These measures offer two different ways to understand the occupation: BLS projections show how national employment may change over time, while relative AI exposure highlights where tasks may intersect with AI-related capabilities. Read them with the work profile and your local context to decide what deserves closer investigation.
Employment
- Employment, 2025
- 79,900 jobs
- Projected employment, 2035
- 88,600 jobs
- Projected change, 2025–2035
- 8,700 jobs (10.8%)
Relative AI exposure
BLS category: Low. This is a relative task-exposure classification, not a forecast of employment change, automation, wages, or worker replacement.
Relative AI exposure · Low
Work profile
Representative tasks
These task statements come from O*NET 31.0. They are source facts, not labels assigned by the AI exposure measure.
- Examine equipment to detect leaks, worn or loose parts, or other indications of disrepair.
- Check sterile supplies to ensure that they are not outdated.
- Record sterilizer test results.
- Organize and assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies, filling special requests as needed.
- Operate and maintain steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in loads, and maintenance procedures performed.
- Clean instruments to prepare them for sterilization.
Skills that matter
Skills in the source profile
Importance uses O*NET's 1–5 scale. Level uses its 0–7 scale. Select a skill to see its source definition and reported values.
Technology and tools
These technology records come from O*NET and show software or tools reported in the occupation profile. They describe work context, not a required checklist for every employer.
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Medical software
- Electronic mail software
- Inventory management software
- Time accounting software
- Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software
- Spreadsheet software
Preparation
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
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Morgan is the JobShift Atlas analyst powered by AI. Answers draw from the evidence on this page and explain what it can tell you.
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Source provenance
Labor-market and exposure facts: bls-ep-2025-35. Work profile: onet-31.0. Verify release details on the Sources page.