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Medical assembler vs packager

The differences between medical assemblers and packagers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a medical assembler has an average salary of $31,681, which is higher than the $31,506 average annual salary of a packager.

The top three skills for a medical assembler include clean room environment, catheter and hand tools. The most important skills for a packager are basic math, package product, and work ethic.

Medical assembler vs packager overview

Medical AssemblerPackager
Yearly salary$31,681$31,506
Hourly rate$15.23$15.15
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs61,8893,674
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%High School Diploma, 49%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

What does a medical assembler do?

A medical assembler is responsible for maintaining and ensuring the adequacy of medical tools and equipment and assembling materials for medical operations. Medical assemblers also assist the maintenance team in keeping the cleanliness and orderliness of medical facilities to avoid potential hazards and delays within the premises. They usually work in laboratories to support the doctors and scientists in conducting experiments and research studies by providing them the appropriate materials and help in gathering information as necessary.

What does a packager do?

Packagers are skilled employees who place completed products into containers and prepare them for shipment by weighing and labeling each package. As the final checkpoints between buyer and manufacturer, packagers must ensure that items are in proper working order as well as discard defective items according to company procedures. They must perform quality control and assist team leaders to verify that all quality standards of all products are being maintained. Packagers must also follow the occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) packing guidelines to ensure the safety of workers and the facility.

Medical assembler vs packager salary

Medical assemblers and packagers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical AssemblerPackager
Average salary$31,681$31,506
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $38,000Between $21,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WAPlymouth, MN
Highest paying stateWashingtonMinnesota
Best paying companyMedtronicMcGuireWoods
Best paying industryHealth CareTechnology

Differences between medical assembler and packager education

There are a few differences between a medical assembler and a packager in terms of educational background:

Medical AssemblerPackager
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%High School Diploma, 49%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Medical assembler vs packager demographics

Here are the differences between medical assemblers' and packagers' demographics:

Medical AssemblerPackager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 43.7% Female, 56.3%Male, 52.3% Female, 47.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 12.7% White, 51.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between medical assembler and packager duties and responsibilities

Medical assembler example responsibilities.

  • Contribute as a team in achieving and exceeding the line core metrics.
  • Perform tasks requiring manual dexterity skills and attention to detail.
  • Follow detailed manufacturing and assembly procedures; solid understanding of GMP, GDP and ISO regulations.
  • Follow detail instructions to assemble FDA regulate medical equipment.
  • Build, troubleshoot and document mechanical assemblies.
  • Work in the clean room doing electro polishing.
  • Show more

Packager example responsibilities.

  • Create PowerShell scripts to manage installations.
  • Create, customize, automate software installation of applications using WiseStudio / InstallShield by VMware.
  • Comply with applicable FDA, OSHA and Abbott/Ross regulations, policies, procedures or guidelines.
  • Experience on MSI, MST (transforms), MSM (merge modules), MSP (patches).
  • Assemble kits.vials, and syringes.
  • Train on OSHA quality control/food safety.
  • Show more

Medical assembler vs packager skills

Common medical assembler skills
  • Clean Room Environment, 10%
  • Catheter, 7%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Dexterity, 5%
  • Medical Products, 5%
  • Patients, 5%
Common packager skills
  • Basic Math, 11%
  • Package Product, 10%
  • Work Ethic, 10%
  • Pallets, 9%
  • Math, 8%
  • Defective Products, 7%

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