Medical Equipment Preparers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $53,550 or more. The middle half of medical equipment preparers in Columbia earn between $37,120 and $47,470.
- $37K10th
- $37K25th
- $44KMedian
- $47K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,180 | $3,682 | $21.24 |
| Median | $44,180 | $3,682 | $21.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,120 | $3,093 | $17.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,470 | $3,956 | $22.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Medical Equipment Preparers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Medical equipment preparers in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($43,960) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($50,510). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $47,700.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $44,180 | $44,180 | $37,090 | $53,550 | 310 |
| South Carolina | $43,960 | $42,510 | $31,840 | $57,910 | 1,160 |
| United States | $50,510 | $47,700 | $36,410 | $69,950 | 77,420 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Medical Equipment Preparers salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $44,180, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $37,065 a year, or $3,089 a month and $1,426 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for medical equipment preparers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $44,180 buys what about $47,170 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Medical Equipment Preparers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Greenville pays the most ($47,450).
- Greenville$47,450
- Charleston$47,010
- Spartanburg$46,970
- Columbia$44,180
- Myrtle Beach$42,390
- Florence$34,120
Highest-paying cities for medical equipment preparers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,800).
- San Jose, CA$84,800
- San Francisco, CA$77,440
- Vallejo, CA$76,760
- Sacramento, CA$74,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$70,730
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Medical Equipment Preparers salary in Columbia: questions
How much do medical equipment preparers make an hour in Columbia?
$21.24 an hour on average, and $21.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level medical equipment preparers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the medical equipment preparers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $37,065 a year ($3,089 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,180.
Do medical equipment preparers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($50,510).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-9093; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.58, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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