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Medical equipment repairers are an often overlooked, but essential part of the health care industry. Responsible for testing, maintaining and repairing a wide array of medical devices, these professionals ensure that valuable medical equipment -- which can save lives -- is functioning properly when clinicians need it most. Without this guarantee, health care practitioners would not be able to provide patients with the quality care they expect and deserve.

Help wanted: employment outlook for medical equipment repairers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for these professionals is expected to grow by an impressive 31 percent between 2010 and 2020, much faster than the average projected growth rate for all U.S. occupations. Technology continues to progress, however, and repairers must master and maintain the skills required to keep up with their quickly developing industry.

Location can also impact a medical equipment repairer's job prospects, as some regions are more promising than others. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the following states project the largest increase in demand for these pros in the decade preceding 2018:

• Oklahoma (41%)
• South Carolina (36%)
• North Carolina (35%)

Medical equipment repairer training: getting and staying on the cutting edge

As with most professionals, the right training can give a medical equipment repairer an advantage over their lesser trained colleagues in the job market, booming or otherwise. What constitutes the "right" training varies tremendously from one position to the next, however. According to the BLS, an associate degree in biomedical equipment technology or a related field remains the most common credential among these professionals, but those who work with more sophisticated equipment -- such as CAT scanners and defibrillators -- may need to earn a bachelor's degree or higher.

Medical equipment repairer programs provide students with the specialized knowledge they need to do their jobs effectively from day one. However, in an industry where technology is ever-changing, ongoing education can be tremendously helpful throughout a medical equipment repairer's career. Those who complete medical equipment repairer training online can often complete or advance their education online while garnering valuable experience in the field, though campus-based programs can offer some flexibility as well.

By the numbers: medical equipment repairer salary info

A number of factors, like education or location, can influence a medical equipment repairer's earnings. According to the BLS, these professionals earned an average annual salary of $44,490 in 2010 with the top 10 percent earning an average of $71,730. This is in-line with data from PayScale, which reports that the average medical equipment repairer salary in 2011 was between $32,500 and $64,000. Professionals with more education tend to earn more, as do those working in either the electronic component manufacturing or wholesale electronic markets industries. Additionally, the BLS reports that medical equipment repairers in the following states tend to earn above-average salaries:

• Utah
• Arizona
• Alaska

Education is yet another important factor that can influence your earning potential, as medical equipment techs with more training or experience under their belts tend to make more than new repairers with less formal instruction.