Medical Equipment Preparers pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $56,120 or more. The middle half of medical equipment preparers in Hickory earn between $36,810 and $47,140.
- $37K10th
- $37K25th
- $42KMedian
- $47K75th
- $56K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,420 | $3,702 | $21.36 |
| Median | $42,260 | $3,522 | $20.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,810 | $3,068 | $17.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,140 | $3,928 | $22.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Medical Equipment Preparers pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Medical equipment preparers in Hickory earn 4% less than the North Carolina average ($46,220) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($50,510). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $47,700.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $44,420 | $42,260 | $36,810 | $56,120 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $46,220 | $45,130 | $36,410 | $58,950 | 2,900 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $44,420, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $36,608 a year, or $3,051 a month and $1,408 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for medical equipment preparers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $44,420 buys what about $50,200 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Medical Equipment Preparers salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 7th of 10 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Winston-Salem pays the most ($48,880).
- Winston-Salem$48,880
- Raleigh$47,890
- Charlotte$47,160
- Greensboro$46,680
- Durham$45,790
- Asheville$44,900
- Hickory$44,420
- Wilmington$44,310
- Greenville$42,380
- Fayetteville$42,030
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Medical Equipment Preparers salary in Hickory: questions
How much do medical equipment preparers make an hour in Hickory?
$21.36 an hour on average, and $20.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level medical equipment preparers salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the medical equipment preparers take-home pay in Hickory?
About $36,608 a year ($3,051 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,420.
Do medical equipment preparers earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.