Stock the room for the case
Check which procedure is booked, then set out the scopes, tools and supplies it needs in that room.
Career profile
Endoscopy Technician
Endoscopy technicians prep flexible camera scopes for viewing inside patients and help clinicians use them.
Could you switch between cleaning equipment thoroughly and working with patients during exams such as colonoscopies? This job asks for that mix.
A day in the life
Spot a damaged accessory early
You inspect equipment before use and tell the nurse about any visible accessory flaw before the case starts.
Help collect and label specimens
In patient-facing roles, help collect specimens and label each one so it stays with the right patient.
Reprocess scopes for reuse
Wash and disinfect reusable endoscopes, following the maker's instructions and facility standards, so they can be reused.
Quick facts
High school + workplace training
United States
Not displayed
A separate national median for endoscopy technicians is unavailable.
Not displayed
National growth and openings are not estimated separately for this specialty.
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
High school + workplace trainingSome entry jobs accept a high school diploma or equivalent; healthcare experience and other requirements vary.
Pay
Not displayedA separate national median for endoscopy technicians is unavailable.
Outlook
Not displayedNational growth and openings are not estimated separately for this specialty.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like precise hand work and checking small details.
- You can stay attentive through repeated cleaning tasks.
- You are comfortable speaking up when equipment seems wrong.
Things to weigh
- Expect substantial standing, repetitive hand work, and contact with potentially infectious material.
- In procedure-support jobs, daily assignments can change at short notice, so you must adjust while keeping track of equipment and patient needs.
Where AI may help
Machines called automated endoscope reprocessors expose scopes and their internal channels to disinfecting solutions, helping carry out part of the preparation for reuse.
What people still lead
Careful manual work still matters. For duodenoscopes, a specialized scope type, a machine cleaning cycle supplements thorough manual cleaning rather than replacing it.
What we can’t predict yet
New scope designs can simplify cleaning or eliminate some reprocessing. How much hands-on work changes will depend on which devices a facility adopts.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use national figures as broad context, then compare the pay and responsibilities of actual endoscopy technician jobs.
National pay context
The broader Healthcare Support Workers, All Other group had a 2025 median of $48,430 a year, or $23.28 an hour. These figures include other jobs and are not an endoscopy technician median.
The national spread
In May 2025, the 10th-percentile annual wage was $34,770 and the 90th-percentile wage was $71,470. These are wage percentiles, not starting and senior salaries.
Responsibility level changes the comparison
In Rochester, Minnesota, advertised hourly ranges were $19.92–$27.33 for Technician I and $21.55–$30.22 for Technician II. The second role adds procedure-room patient care and equipment troubleshooting. These are local advertised ranges, not guaranteed offers.
Broader employment outlook
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other is projected to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, with 14,100 openings a year on average. Those openings span the whole group; they are not an endoscopy technician hiring forecast.
Getting started
Enter through a technician I job
- What the route involves
- Apply with a high school diploma or equivalent and learn room preparation and scope handling at work.
- What it can lead to
- You build experience in an entry-level endoscopy role; prior patient-care experience may be preferred.
- What to check
- Check required credentials and deadlines. Some jobs require Basic Cardiac Life Support certification within 60 days of hiring.
Bring surgical technology education
- What the route involves
- Complete an accredited surgical technology program.
- What it can lead to
- Some employers accept graduates directly for technician II consideration without additional work experience.
- What to check
- Confirm that a target employer accepts this route before enrolling; it is not required for every endoscopy job.
Entry requirements depend on the employer. Patient-care work is supervised by a nurse or physician.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Make scope cleaning and equipment preparation reliable habits, including reading the instructions closely.
Build procedure-room skills
Learn to troubleshoot equipment during procedures and coordinate its use with the nurse and physician.
Support advanced cases
Develop toward technician II work with more complex procedures, or help orient new coworkers.
Where you can work
Endoscope reprocessing areas
Some positions concentrate on preparing scopes for reuse, with less procedure-room work. Weekday shifts are possible, though start times can vary.
- Indoors
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Outpatient procedure rooms
You work close to patients: help them feel supported during the procedure, handle equipment, and assist the nurse with transport to recovery.
- Indoors
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Make a paper checklist for a mock endoscopy room: scope, accessories, specimen container, and labels. Ask someone to remove one item and mark another as damaged. Check the setup and explain what you would flag to the nurse. Notice whether this careful checking holds your attention.
Stay safe: Use paper cards only; this is a detail-checking exercise, not training to handle or clean medical equipment.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Endoscopy Technicians — 31-9099.02. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics, 2025–2035. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Mayo Clinic. Endoscopy Technician — Rochester, job 392151. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Mayo Clinic. Endoscopy Technician II — Rochester, job 392150. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Duke Human Resources. Endoscopy Technician I/II — job description 4671. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- UW Health. Endoscopy Technician — job description 510009. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Information about Automated Endoscope Reprocessors (AERs) and FDA’s Evaluation. Accessed 2026-10-03.