Medical device assembler
Also known as: medical device fabricator, medical furniture maker, medical instrument assembly worker, medical appliance assembler, medical device assembly technician, medical instrument assembly technician
About this occupation
Medical device assemblers manufacture instruments, machines and appliances that can be used to prevent, diagnose or treat medical conditions. Medical devices can be non-electrical, such as tubes, needles, drainage sets and sterile pipettes, as well as electrical, such as pacemakers, MRI machines, and X-ray devices. Some may also work in the production of medical furniture such as hospital beds and operation tables.
Essential skills and knowledge
- align components
- medical devices materials
- quality standards
- fasten components
- manipulate medical devices' materials
- assemble final product
- test medical devices
- remove defective products
- medical devices
- supply machine
- wear cleanroom suit
- read assembly drawings
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Medical Equipment Repairers (O*NET 49-9062.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Test or calibrate components or equipment, following manufacturers' manuals and troubleshooting techniques, using hand tools, power tools, or measuring devices.
- Perform preventive maintenance or service, such as cleaning, lubricating, or adjusting equipment.
- Inspect, test, or troubleshoot malfunctioning medical or related equipment, following manufacturers' specifications and using test and analysis instruments.
- Keep records of maintenance, repair, and required updates of equipment.
- Disassemble malfunctioning equipment and remove, repair, or replace defective parts, such as motors, clutches, or transformers.
- Examine medical equipment or facility's structural environment and check for proper use of equipment to protect patients and staff from electrical or mechanical hazards and to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
- Typical education (US)
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension
US median pay: US$61,660 a year (2025), 65,990 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).
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalVery important (4.2)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.9)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.6)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.0)
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
- Most common education (US)
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
- 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.
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
- Photonics Technicians
- Robotics Technicians
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
- Medical Appliance Technicians
- Avionics Technicians
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.