Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Medical appliance technicians work in a specialized technical career focused on building, adjusting, or repairing medical appliances and devices. National employment is relatively small at 12,000 workers, which can appeal to people who prefer a more focused field. The role combines hands-on, mechanical work with precision and attention to detail, drawing heavily on fine motor skills, mechanical abilities, and science knowledge. Creativity and innovation also play a part, along with strong critical and analytical thinking. Interpersonal skills, speaking, and listening are important for working with others and understanding requirements. The typical entry point is a high school diploma or equivalent, which can make this path attractive to those seeking a skilled career without a longer formal education. With a national median salary of $47,060 and projected employment growth of 3.7%, this occupation offers a mix of technical challenge, physical activity, and stable long-term opportunities for people interested in medical-related work and craftsmanship.
Medical appliance technicians earn a national median annual salary of $47,060, with pay varying by location. Among the top states, Virginia reports a higher median salary of $56,260, followed by California at $51,530 and New York at $48,080. Maryland and Washington are closer to the national median, at $46,940 and $48,030. At the metro level, several areas show notably higher median pay. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro reports $61,890, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton is $59,910, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim is $53,950, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont is $52,820. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro is also above the national median at $48,850. These differences suggest that technicians willing to target specific metros or higher-paying states may see stronger earning potential than the national median, especially in select large metropolitan areas.
Medical appliance technicians have a national employment base of 12,000, with projected employment growth of 3.7%. This indicates a positive, if measured, expansion of opportunities in the field. There are an estimated 2,000 annual openings, which reflects ongoing hiring needs, including both new positions and turnover. The consistent 3.7% growth rate cited across several top states and metro areas shows that the projected expansion is not limited to a single region. For job seekers, this combination of defined but modest employment size, positive growth, and steady annual openings can support a stable career path. Individuals entering the field may find that the occupation’s focused skill set and specific technical nature create a clear niche. Overall, the numbers point to a career with ongoing demand and room for new entrants over the coming years.
Location choices can significantly shape the experience of medical appliance technicians. Among states, California has the largest listed employment at 1,300, with a median salary of $51,530 and an opportunity score of 67.38. New York follows with 720 employed and a median salary of $48,080, paired with a strong opportunity score of 65.78. Washington, Virginia, and Maryland each have smaller employment counts—310, 260, and 160 respectively—but all share the same 3.7% growth projection. Virginia stands out on pay, with a median salary of $56,260, the highest among these states. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City ranks highest by opportunity score at 77.27, with 690 employed and a median salary of $48,850. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria reports the highest listed metro salary at $61,890, while Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco also show elevated pay and solid opportunity scores, making them notable markets for targeted job searches.
The typical education for medical appliance technicians is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to people who prefer to enter the workforce without completing a longer postsecondary program. However, success in this occupation depends heavily on a strong skill set. Fine motor skills and physical strength and stamina support the hands-on and physically active aspects of the work. Mechanical skills, science, and mathematics contribute to understanding how devices function and how to work with them accurately. Critical and analytical thinking help technicians troubleshoot and make sound decisions, while creativity and innovation support developing or adjusting solutions. Interpersonal skills, including speaking and listening, are important for collaborating and understanding needs or instructions. Project management skills round out the profile, helping technicians organize tasks and timelines effectively, even without advanced formal education. Together, these abilities form the core professional toolkit for this career path.
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