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Medical Appliance Technicians vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss out-earn Medical Appliance Technicianss by $26K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Medical Appliance Technicianss land at $48,030 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss at $74,450. The education gap is real: medical appliance technician programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Medical Appliance Technicianss is Arizona ($72,760); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Medical Appliance Technicians
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$48,030
$74,450
Hourly rate
$23.09/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$36,510
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$75,740
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
11,280
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Arizona
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Medical Appliance Technicians median pay.

State
Medical Appliance Technicians
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Arizona
$72,760
$75,330
Massachusetts
$59,810
$79,920
Colorado
$59,560
$78,890
New Hampshire
$54,980
$79,310
Connecticut
$54,430
$83,150
Minnesota
$53,750
$78,550
New Jersey
$52,400
$81,110
California
$51,530
$76,840
Louisiana
$50,770
$77,520
Rhode Island
$49,100
$81,650
New York
$48,080
$78,580
Washington
$48,030
$79,310
Maine
$47,670
$78,970
Maryland
$46,940
$78,520
South Carolina
$42,230
$77,500

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Medical Appliance Technicianss or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss earn more nationally. The median is $48,030 for Medical Appliance Technicianss versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss, a difference of $26K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Medical Appliance Technicians or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Medical Appliance Technicians or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Medical Appliance Technicians typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Medical Appliance Technicianss get paid the most?

Arizona is the top-paying state for Medical Appliance Technicianss at $72,760/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Medical Appliance Technicians vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Arizona, Medical Appliance Technicianss earn $72,760 vs. $75,330 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Medical Appliance Technicians salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Medical Appliance Technicianss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a medical appliance techniciansGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →