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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Medical Appliance Technicianss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Medical Appliance Technicianss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $78,978/year, better purchasing power than Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler's higher nominal pay of $81,600. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler$81,600
#2 Boston-Cambridge-Newton$59,910
#3 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia$57,880

Best purchasing power

#1 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler$78,978
#2 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia$59,456
#3 Raleigh-Cary$57,549

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed medical appliance technicianss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
27% rent burden
$81,600
$78,978
#2
$57,880
$59,456
#3
Raleigh-Cary
37% rent burden
$56,490
$57,549
#4
$59,910
$55,334
#5
$55,560
$52,198
#6
$48,520
$50,363
#7
$49,920
$49,771
#8
St. Louis
31% rent burden
$46,750
$49,164
#9
Providence-Warwick
42% rent burden
$49,100
$48,246
#10
$49,460
$48,230
#11
Kansas City
37% rent burden
$44,360
$47,936
#12
$53,950
$47,504
#13
$48,140
$47,466
#14
Jacksonville
43% rent burden
$46,610
$46,854
#15
$46,210
$45,802
#16
$52,820
$45,688
#17
$47,310
$45,670
#18
$47,670
$45,219
#19
Salt Lake City-Murray
34% rent burden
$44,110
$43,730
#20
$48,850
$43,399
#21
$47,340
$42,309
#22
Gainesville
51% rent burden
$35,170
$36,359

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Medical Appliance Technicianss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $81,600 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $68,000 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A medical appliance technicians in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Medical Appliance Technicianss?

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler has one of the lowest rent burdens for Medical Appliance Technicianss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,839/month, with a median salary of $81,600.

Where do Medical Appliance Technicianss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler pays the highest nominal median salary at $81,600/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Medical Appliance TechnicianssView →How to become a medical appliance techniciansGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →