Medical Equipment Preparers vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides: Who Earns More?
Medical Equipment Preparers out-earn Home Health and Personal Care Aides by $12K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Medical Equipment Preparers land at $47,700 and Home Health and Personal Care Aides at $35,800. The education gap is real: medical equipment preparer programs typically require postsecondary nondegree award, while home health and personal care aide programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Medical Equipment Preparers is California ($61,370); for Home Health and Personal Care Aides it's Washington ($47,730).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Medical Equipment Preparers median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Medical Equipment Preparers or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Medical Equipment Preparers earn more nationally. The median is $47,700 for Medical Equipment Preparers versus $35,800 for Home Health and Personal Care Aides, a difference of $12K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Medical Equipment Preparers or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Home Health and Personal Care Aides has the better 10-year outlook at 17% projected growth, compared to 10% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Medical Equipment Preparers or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Medical Equipment Preparers typically requires postsecondary nondegree award. Home Health and Personal Care Aides requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Medical Equipment Preparers get paid the most?
California is the top-paying state for Medical Equipment Preparers at $61,370/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Medical Equipment Preparers vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Medical Equipment Preparers earn $58,830 vs. $47,730 for Home Health and Personal Care Aides. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.