Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET)
Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) Job Description
Biomedical equipment technicians (BMETs) install, repair and maintain various types of medical devices. Other common names for a BMET include medical equipment repairer, medical equipment repair technician and biomedical technician. Medical equipment has become extremely complex, and BMETs are responsible for knowing how to diagnosis problems and perform repairs on such equipment. BMETs may be called upon to carry out regularly scheduled maintenance, and to make emergency repairs if a medical device malfunctions or stops working. BMETs work on many different types of life-saving and life-improving devices including respirators, X-ray machines, dialysis machines, heart-lung machines, CAT scanners, defibrillators, ultrasound devices and electric wheelchairs. BMETs use a variety of tools, including computers and computer software, to diagnose problems with malfunctioning equipment. After determining the problem, the BMET performs the necessary repairs. The job duties of a BMET require organization, manual dexterity, the ability to communicate effectively with doctors and other medical professionals and a thorough working knowledge of computers. Familiarity with medical terminology and medical procedures is also helpful.
Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) Salary Statistics as of 2015
Average annual salary for a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) is $44965 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest salary recorded was $62487. The lowest salary reported was $32213. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.
Median hourly wage for a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) is $22.36 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest hourly rate recorded was $31.07. The lowest hourly rate recorded was $16.02. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.
Bonuses for a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) are based on the years of experience using statistics from the U.S. as of 2015. The average bonus recorded was $0 from people with 15+ years of experience. The average bonus recorded was $0 from people with under 1 year of experience.
These are the highest paying states for a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET). These numbers are based off the median annual salary as of 2015.
California – $39,732 – $83,010
Florida – $25,274 – $62,367
Georgia – $30,913 – $68,751
Illinois – $20,608 – $60,114
New York – $30,378 – $67,871
Pennsylvania – $40,119 – $72,500
Texas – $30,627 – $59,745
These are the highest paying cities for a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET). These numbers are based off the median annual salary as of 2015.
San Antonio, Texas –
Atlanta, Georgia –
Chicago, Illinois –
New York, New York –
San Diego, California –
Seattle, Washington –
St. Louis, Missouri –
This chart outlines the average annual salary of a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) from the past 5 years. In 2015 the average annual salary was $44965 while in 2007 it was just $41699.76
Specialized Fields
Specialization within the field of biomedical equipment technology is generally based upon the types of equipment a BMET is certified to repair. The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation offers three different certifications:
• CBET—general certification to repair a wide range of biomedical equipment
• CRES—certification to repair and maintain radiological equipment, including X-ray machines, ultrasound equipment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines
• CLES—certification to repair and maintain laboratory equipment, such as monitoring and analytical devices
Work Environment
BMETs usually work in a hospital, clinic, nursing home or other medical setting. Most BMETs work during normal business hours from Monday to Friday. However, due to the importance of keeping medical devices available for emergency use at all times, BMETs might have to be on call to make repairs during nights and weekends. BMETs might be a full or part time employee of a hospital or medical center. BMETs are also employed by companies that manage service contracts to provide maintenance and repair for multiple hospitals, doctor’s offices and clinics. Companies that provide home health care also employ BMETs to make service calls to client’s homes to repair ventilators, heart monitors, wheelchairs and other home health care devices. Many BMETs wear medical scrubs on the job, especially if they work in a hospital or medical center. Other BMETs might wear office attire or other clothing as dictated by their employer and their general working conditions. With the health and even lives of people at stake, the stress levels for BMETs can be high at times, but in general the work of helping doctors and nurses take care of people is very satisfying.
How To Become a Biomedical Equipment Technician
BMETs are required to have an Associate’s degree and two to three years work experience to become certified. A Bachelor’s degree is also highly desirable but not necessary. Education and training in the biomedical equipment technology field may also be received while serving in the military. As part of obtaining their education, BMETs study biology, human anatomy, electronics, computer technology and mechanical repair. In some cases, additional years of work experience may replace the need for an educational degree. Upon graduation from an accredited instructional program and completion of the required work experience, individuals seeking certification as a BMET must successfully complete an examination through the International Certification Commission. Certification in three specializations for BMETs is available; CBET for general biomedical equipment technicians, CRES for radiology equipment specialists and CLES for laboratory equipment specialists.
Job Outlook
Medical equipment is becoming increasing complex and these complicated machines require specialized maintenance and repair. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career opportunities for BMETs are expected to increase by 31 percent between 2010 and 2020, due to an increased demand for medical services, an aging population and advances in medical technology.
Gender Statistics |
Related Jobs |
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92%
8%
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Based on our stats gathered across the U.S. 92% of Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET)s were males while 8% were females. These numbers are based on averages across all states combined. Some individual states may have a much different ratio however.
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Past Jobs Electronics Technician |
Future Jobs Biomedical Engineering Technician |
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