SOC 31-9093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Medical Equipment Preparers — Chico
Chico, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $46,870, median pay for Medical Equipment Preparers in Chico, CA tracks the national median of $47,700 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $46,870, median pay for Medical Equipment Preparers in Chico, CA tracks the national median of $47,700 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $46,870 and $57,250. The lowest tenth earn under $46,340, while the highest tenth earn more than $59,430.
Vallejo leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $82,610. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 197th of 286 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,340 | −2.9% |
| 25th | $46,870 | −1.7% |
| Median (50th) | $46,870 | −1.7% |
| 75th | $57,250 | +20.0% |
| 90th | $59,430 | +24.6% |
| Mean | $51,440 | +7.8% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vallejo | $82,610 | 140 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $82,140 | 1,070 | |
| 3 | Santa Cruz | $81,370 | 50 | |
| 4 | San Jose | $81,090 | 540 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $79,490 | 680 | |
| 6 | San Luis Obispo | $75,800 | 60 | |
| 7 | San Diego | $67,830 | 630 | |
| 8 | Redding | $61,840 | 40 | |
| 9 | Stockton | $61,060 | 100 | |
| 10 | Santa Rosa | $60,980 | 150 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chico run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $46,870 buys what $42,340 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,870as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,340US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,870 a year, 1.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,340 to $59,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Vallejo, at $82,610.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Medical Equipment Preparers in Chico, CA?
The median annual wage is $46,870, or $22.53 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $47,700, so pay in Chico, CA is 1.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Chico, CA earns more than $59,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,340 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Vallejo, at $82,610 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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