Medical Equipment Preparers Salary
The median pay for a medical equipment preparers in Iowa City, IA is $39,170/year ($18.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $52K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.51), which stretches that salary to about $42,804 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $962/month, about 36% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $39K get you in Iowa City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.51). 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 Iowa City
Pay for medical equipment preparers in Iowa City runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $48K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $962/month, which is 36.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.51 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for medical equipment preparerss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for medical equipment preparers in metros near Iowa City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $45K | $49K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $40K | $45K |
| Cedar Rapids | $41K | $46K |
| Sioux City | $42K | $49K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level medical equipment preparers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $52K or more, a $12K 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 Iowa City numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
Can a medical equipment preparer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 36.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $962/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Iowa City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical equipment preparers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,350/month. At HUD’s $962/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Iowa City?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $39K here vs. $48K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa City compare to the national average for medical equipment preparers?
Iowa City pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do medical equipment preparers make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $39,170 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,170, and experienced medical equipment preparers can clear $51,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,642/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $962/month, which eats 36.4% 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 Iowa City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 91.51 (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 $42,804 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.