Biomedical Technician Salary Information
Biomedical equipment technicians (BMT), also called medical equipment repairers, test, maintain and repair medical equipment. They work in hospitals, research institutions and other health care facilities, where they work on equipment such as defibrillators, x-ray machines and electric wheelchairs. Earnings are dependent on factors like industry and work experience.
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Annual Salary
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According to a May 2008 salary report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual salary for biomedical equipment technicians working in the United States was $44,030. The median annual wages for the occupation were $41,520. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,590 and $53,720. The lowest-earning 10 percent of biomedical equipment technicians earned less than $25,860. The highest 10 percent made upwards of $65,930.
Hourly Wage
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Some biomedical equipment technicians are compensated on an hourly basis. The mean hourly wage of biomedical equipment technicians works out to $21.17, according to the same May 2008 BLS report. The median hourly wage was $19.96. The middle 50 percent brought home was between $15.19 and $25.83 hourly, and the highest-paid tenth made more than $31.70. The 10 percent of biomedical equipment technicians who earned the lowest salaries made less than $12.43.
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Work Experience
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The earnings of a biomedical equipment technician tend to increase along with work experience. According to an April 2010 salary survey by the private company Payscale, the median expected salary for biomedical equipment technicians with between one and four years of work experience falls between $34,045 and $48,249. Those with five to nine years of work experience can expect to bring home between $39,718 and $55,207. That salary range increases to $46,275 through $61,094 for biomedical equipment technicians with between 10 and 19 years of experience. Biomedical equipment technicians with more than 20 years of work experience generally earn between $52,139 and $66,024.
Industry
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Another factor that can impact the earnings of biomedical equipment technicians is the industry in which they are employed. The BLS calculated the median annual salaries of biomedical technicians in the five largest U.S. industries. With a median annual wage of $45,990, biomedical equipment technicians working in general medical and surgical hospitals earned the highest mean salaries, according to the BLS. Those working in the electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance industry made $44,740 annually. Technicians employed in the professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers industry earned a median annual salary $42,950, while those in health and personal care stores made $32,770. The median annual salary for biomedical equipment technicians in the consumer goods rental industry was $29,020, according to the report.
Advancement Opportunities
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With solid work experience and demonstrated competency, there are advancement opportunities for biomedical equipment technicians. Those who show they can work on basic machines are generally allowed to work on more complex equipment, according to the BLS. With positive performance reviews, some move on to supervisor or manager positions, which demand higher salaries. Supervisory positions usually also require a bachelor's degree, whereas technicians only typically need an associate's degree in biomedical equipment technology or engineering.
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References
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