Medical Equipment Preparers
Healthcare Support
Steam autoclaves, cleaned instruments, and assembled surgical trays take up most of the day, along with notes on each load, its contents, and any maintenance. Equipment is checked for leaks, worn or loose parts, and other signs of disrepair, then defects are reported to supervisors. Inventory of instruments and supplies is tracked, crash carts and other stock are replenished, and orders go out when levels run low. The work is in healthcare facilities and laboratories, where every load needs sterility checks and written logs. Suits people who like precise, hands-on routines and keeping close watch on quality and stock.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$47'700
Median Wage Market Position
$47'700
What you might do
- Run steam autoclaves and log each load
- Clean instruments before they go into sterilizers
- Assemble surgical trays and specialty supply packs
- Inspect equipment for leaks and worn parts
- Record sterilizer test results after each cycle
- Restock crash carts and order low supplies
Skills that matter
- Operating steam autoclaves and logging loads
- Cleaning instruments before sterilization
- Recording sterilizer test results
- Assembling surgical instrument trays
- Inspecting equipment for leaks and wear
- Reporting defective equipment to supervisors
AI & the future of this role
Sterilizing trays, checking instruments, and keeping equipment ready are physical, rule-bound tasks that still need careful hands. Tracking systems may streamline logs, but hospital and lab demand for clean gear is unlikely to fade soon.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details