Medical Equipment Preparer salary in California
Medical Equipment Preparers in California earn a median of $61,370 a year ($29.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,720 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,240 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $47,700. California ranks 1st of 51 states for medical equipment preparers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.48 medical equipment preparers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $65,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for medical equipment preparers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| 25th percentile | $49,650 | $23.87 |
| Median | $61,370 | $29.50 |
| 75th percentile | $77,660 | $37.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,240 | $40.98 |
| Average (mean) | $65,100 | $31.30 |
Half of medical equipment preparers 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 | $5,114.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,557.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,360.38 |
| Weekly | $1,180.19 |
| Hourly | $29.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Medical Equipment Preparer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $82,610 | 140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,140 | 1,070 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $81,370 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $81,090 | 540 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $79,490 | 680 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $75,800 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $67,830 | 630 |
| Redding, CA | $61,840 | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $61,060 | 100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,980 | 150 |
| Salinas, CA | $60,490 | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $60,380 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $59,560 | 800 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $59,520 | 3,010 |
| Merced, CA | $51,110 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $51,010 | 80 |
| Visalia, CA | $48,810 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $48,060 | 330 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $47,540 | 170 |
| Chico, CA | $46,870 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for medical equipment preparers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $61,370 |
| Washington | $58,830 |
| Massachusetts | $58,580 |
| New York | $57,320 |
| Delaware | $53,300 |
| Hawaii | $51,630 |
| Rhode Island | $51,460 |
| New Jersey | $50,280 |
| Minnesota | $50,070 |
| Alaska | $49,920 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $49,660 | $23.88 |
| Dental Assistant | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| Massage Therapist | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| Phlebotomist | $56,040 | $26.94 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $42,200 | $20.29 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,050 | $21.66 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $83,110 | $39.96 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Orderly | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $81,770 | $39.31 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-9093. 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 equipment preparer make in California?
The median salary for medical equipment preparers in California is $61,370 a year, or $29.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid medical equipment preparers make in California?
The top 10% of medical equipment preparers in California earn at least $85,240 a year. The top 25% earn $77,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for medical equipment preparers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,680 a year, and a quarter of medical equipment preparers earn $49,650 or less.
How many medical equipment preparers work in California?
About 8,720 medical equipment preparers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.