Medical Appliance Technician salary in California
Medical Appliance Technicians in California earn a median of $51,530 a year ($24.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,300 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $48,030. California ranks 14th of 40 states for medical appliance technicians pay. There are 0.07 medical appliance technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $56,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for medical appliance technicians in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,980 | $18.74 |
| 25th percentile | $44,850 | $21.56 |
| Median | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| 75th percentile | $61,950 | $29.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,300 | $40.05 |
| Average (mean) | $56,610 | $27.21 |
Half of medical appliance technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,294.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,147.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,981.92 |
| Weekly | $990.96 |
| Hourly | $24.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Medical Appliance Technician salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $55,560 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $53,950 | 420 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $52,820 | 140 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,340 | 290 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $44,850 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for medical appliance technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $72,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,920 |
| Massachusetts | $59,810 |
| Colorado | $59,560 |
| Virginia | $56,260 |
| New Hampshire | $54,980 |
| Nebraska | $54,770 |
| North Carolina | $54,650 |
| Connecticut | $54,430 |
| Minnesota | $53,750 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $43,970 | $21.14 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,910 | $25.44 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,950 | $25.46 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,640 | $24.34 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,730 | $23.43 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $47,410 | $22.80 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $49,190 | $23.65 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9082. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical appliance technician make in California?
The median salary for medical appliance technicians in California is $51,530 a year, or $24.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid medical appliance technicians make in California?
The top 10% of medical appliance technicians in California earn at least $83,300 a year. The top 25% earn $61,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for medical appliance technicians in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,980 a year, and a quarter of medical appliance technicians earn $44,850 or less.
How many medical appliance technicians work in California?
About 1,300 medical appliance technicians are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.