SOC 31-9093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Medical Equipment Preparers — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
In Santa Cruz, CA the median wage for Medical Equipment Preparers reaches $81,370 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Santa Cruz, CA the median wage for Medical Equipment Preparers reaches $81,370 a year. That is 70.6% more than the national median of $47,700. Pay ranges from under $38,050 at the tenth percentile to more than $85,820 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $56,170 to $82,360.
Employment stands at 50, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Vallejo records the highest median at $82,610. Of the 328 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 108th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,050 | −20.2% |
| 25th | $56,170 | +17.8% |
| Median (50th) | $81,370 | +70.6% |
| 75th | $82,360 | +72.7% |
| 90th | $85,820 | +79.9% |
| Mean | $70,730 | +48.3% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vallejo | $82,610 | 140 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $82,140 | 1,070 | |
| 3 | San Jose | $81,090 | 540 | |
| 4 | Sacramento | $79,490 | 680 | |
| 5 | San Luis Obispo | $75,800 | 60 | |
| 6 | San Diego | $67,830 | 630 | |
| 7 | Redding | $61,840 | 40 | |
| 8 | Stockton | $61,060 | 100 | |
| 9 | Santa Rosa | $60,980 | 150 | |
| 10 | Salinas | $60,490 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $81,370 buys what $73,505 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 54.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$81,370as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$73,505US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $81,370 a year, 70.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,050 to $85,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Vallejo, at $82,610.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Medical Equipment Preparers in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $81,370, or $39.12 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 Santa Cruz, CA is 70.6% higher. 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 Santa Cruz, CA earns more than $85,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,050 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
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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