Medical Equipment Preparers Salary
The median pay for a medical equipment preparers in Columbia, MO is $46,340/year ($22.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.44), which stretches that salary to about $51,811 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,160/month, about 36.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (89.44). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About medical equipment preparers
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What this looks like in Columbia
Medical equipment preparers pay in Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,160/month, which is 36.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.44 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for medical equipment preparers in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $46K | $48K |
| Kansas City | $46K | $50K |
| Springfield | $38K | $43K |
| Cape Girardeau | $37K | $43K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, MO
Entry-level medical equipment preparers (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Equipment Preparers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Medical Equipment Preparers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $61K | +29% | 8,720 |
| Washington | $59K | +23% | 1,670 |
| Massachusetts | $59K | +23% | 1,900 |
| New York | $57K | +20% | 5,190 |
| Delaware | $53K | +12% | 190 |
| Hawaii | $52K | +8% | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $51K | +8% | 190 |
| New Jersey | $50K | +5% | 2,440 |
| Minnesota | $50K | +5% | 1,390 |
| Alaska | $50K | +5% | 220 |
| Vermont | $49K | +3% | 140 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | +3% | 380 |
| Oregon | $49K | +2% | 1,570 |
| Maryland | $49K | +2% | 1,160 |
| District of Columbia | $49K | +2% | 310 |
| Wyoming | $48K | +1% | 120 |
| Illinois | $48K | +1% | 2,800 |
| Utah | $48K | +1% | 600 |
| Connecticut | $48K | +1% | 1,060 |
| Georgia | $48K | +0% | 1,860 |
| Colorado | $48K | +0% | 1,950 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | -0% | 1,380 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -1% | 1,590 |
| Texas | $47K | -2% | 4,520 |
| Kentucky | $47K | -2% | 1,120 |
| Maine | $47K | -2% | 510 |
| Arizona | $47K | -2% | 2,320 |
| Nevada | $47K | -2% | 510 |
| Virginia | $47K | -2% | 1,840 |
| Idaho | $46K | -3% | 580 |
| Florida | $46K | -4% | 5,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $46K | -4% | 3,450 |
| Michigan | $46K | -4% | 2,420 |
| Ohio | $46K | -5% | 3,210 |
| Kansas | $45K | -5% | 740 |
| Indiana | $45K | -5% | 1,750 |
| North Carolina | $45K | -5% | 2,900 |
| West Virginia | $45K | -6% | 530 |
| Montana | $45K | -6% | 330 |
| Missouri | $43K | -9% | 1,970 |
| Oklahoma | $43K | -9% | 690 |
| South Carolina | $43K | -11% | 1,160 |
| South Dakota | $42K | -11% | 480 |
| Nebraska | $41K | -13% | 550 |
| Iowa | $40K | -16% | 590 |
| North Dakota | $39K | -18% | 350 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -20% | 320 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -23% | 300 |
| Louisiana | $36K | -25% | 620 |
| Alabama | $36K | -25% | 1,000 |
| Mississippi | $35K | -26% | 350 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track medical equipment preparers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
Can a medical equipment preparer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 36.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,160/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical equipment preparers in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical equipment preparers typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,984/month. At HUD’s $1,160/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical equipment preparer a high-paying job in Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for medical equipment preparers?
Columbia pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do medical equipment preparers make in Columbia, MO?
The median is $46,340 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,070, and experienced medical equipment preparers can clear $63,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,155/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,160/month, which eats 36.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a medical equipment preparers salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.44 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median medical equipment preparers salary is worth about $51,811 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical equipment preparers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.