Surgical instrument maker
Also known as: medical instrument repairer, medical instrument technician, surgical device assembler, surgical device designer, medical instrument design technician, surgical instrument design technician
About this occupation
Surgical instrument makers create, repair and design surgical instruments, such as clamps, graspers, mechanical cutters, scopes, probes and other surgical instruments.
Essential skills and knowledge
- tend lathe
- manipulate stainless steel
- tend boring machine
- operate drilling equipment
- tend tumbling machine
- metal smoothing technologies
- surgical instruments
- join metals
- test accuracy of surgical instruments
- tend metal sawing machine
- assemble metal parts
- heat metals
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Surgical Technologists (O*NET 29-2055.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
- Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
- Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.
- Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
- Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
- Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Social
Top skills: Monitoring, Active Listening, Operations Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Service Orientation
US median pay: US$64,650 a year (2025), 117,460 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Surgical Assistants
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
- Endoscopy Technicians
- Medical Equipment Preparers
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
- Radiation Therapists
- Histotechnologists
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.