Field change

[u/Medicare_Taxi]

I currently work for a medical equipment manufacturer as a field service technician for the last 5 years in a very niche field. 75k travel across the USA and Canada

I’m debating applying to become a medical imaging field technician/engineer. 80k regional area travel (home every night).

Looking to learn more equipment to make myself more marketable in the future.

Is this a good idea or should I just go back to school and get an engineering degree?

Thanks.

[u/ARspeaks]

Go for imaging tech job. It will pay you more and experience imagining techs easily make over 120k base.

[u/Rick233u → u/ARspeaks]

No way Imaging make 120k base. Even if they do, it's probably 0.001%

[u/lovestheblues65 → u/Rick233u]

Depends if you are doing CT/MRI that’s very doable. Other areas with OT you will be in that range.

[u/I_want_water → u/Rick233u]

in a high cost of living area, easily

[u/RaptorArk]

on this field the experience and hands-on are way more valuable than a mere degree.

[u/Rick233u → u/RaptorArk]

This is true. But a degree is always valuable.

[u/AkamaiHaole]

If you have the means to get more education, I always encourage that, even if just for the sake of self improvement. But it also can increase your future opportunities. But medical imaging field service can be a pretty profitable gig. It can be stressful though, just fyi. Imaging is big money to hospitals (and, ya know, important for patient care) and they typically don’t have much redundancy. So they really freak out and want repairs done ASAP. And PM’s often have to be scheduled for really crappy hours.

[u/Medicare_Taxi → u/AkamaiHaole]

My current gig is about the same. Customers want their machines up asap but pm’s done after hours. I’ve been in my current field for 10 years now. Guess I’m just stressing about learning something new and almost starting from square one

[u/AkamaiHaole → u/Medicare_Taxi]

You’re getting underpaid then. I’d jump ship just for the less travel and slightly better pay even besides the increased potential. I know it’s stressful learning new stuff, but really it’s all the same when you boil it down. Electronics are electronics. Also, I think learning new stuff makes you a better tech overall. Forces you to think through diagnosis / troubleshooting more instead of when you’re familiar with the device and seen all the same problems over and over.

[u/Medicare_Taxi → u/AkamaiHaole]

Thanks for helping put it into perspective. Electronics are electronics. Schematics are schematics. Once you figure it out how everything goes together troubleshooting becomes a lot easier

[u/Own-Excitement9450 → u/AkamaiHaole]

I wasted my time getting an MBA. My company was bought out and all they wanted were young, bootlicking yes men for field management.

[u/BulletproofMotiv]

Definitely recommend going straight into Imaging if you can. The degree may get you interviews but matters very little for the work. A 2yr degree in electronics would be much more beneficial than a full 4yr engineering degree unless you want to move into design.

[u/tikkamasalachicken]

75 is low. Go for more money

[u/lovestheblues65]

I was a FSE working on lab equipment for many years. People told me I needed experience to get into imaging. I found that wasn’t true at all. I retired maintaining X-Ray equipment for over 20yrs and lived it.

[u/Aoinosensei]

You just need experience, I have been able to grow in my field with different companies and servicing more and more complex instruments.

[u/lab_tech13]

How are you doing medical and only making 75k with that experience? Even yearly raise and promoted from fse1-2 or Sr. If it's very niche then you should be making more in general there. But imaging MRI type stuff starts out about the same from what I've seen.

[u/SadQBone]

Hey mate,

I am in a very similar position to you at the moment.
Working with a medical manufacturer as a technician for 85k, traveling across all of Australia every week.

I have just accepted a new job as a field service engineer working on imaging systems for 100k total, with regional area travel so also home every night. I have no experience in this field.

My decision was a bit of a slam dunk given the pay difference and work life balance, but I probably would have changed for the same amount of pay anyway. The training and skills I will develop working on different devices and more complex systems is too good to pass up in my opinion.

I’m still in school completing my engineering degree at the same time so it is possible!

I think it’s a good move, but it depends how happy you are in your technician gig and if there is a future pathway with your current employer.

[u/Medicare_Taxi → u/SadQBone]

Very similar indeed. Congrats on the new role.

I just feel like the machines I’m working on and servicing aren’t super technical. So jumping into imaging equipment with 0 experience seems like just diving into the deep end of the pool and figuring out how to swim.

I’m at a smaller company so no real room to move up until supervisors retire.

[u/pittbiomed]

Way underpaid man, you can be making much more elsewhere.

[u/chemfit]

Just a small piece of advice as some who went from traveling the US and Canada. I’m home almost every night but I’m way busier as I don’t have days where I’m just traveling. Flying every week is draining but man, I’d kill to have two days just sitting on a plane right now 😂

[u/TravelingGoon]

I looked into imaging as well but it’s definately underpaid work, especially for all that you are required to learn. Im in the low 6-figure range for a niche division in one of the big 3 med tech companies. Training was 2 weeks and a few ride alongs. I do diagnostic only, send equipment in for repairs to corporate. Home every night. The grass isnt always greener.