Sterile Processing Technician salary: how much does a sterile processing technician make?
A sterile processing technician in the US earns a median of $47,700 a year, about $22.93 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,410 and the top 10% earn over $69,950. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, California, has a median of $61,370.
Sterile Processing Technician pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a sterile processing technician make an hour?
The median sterile processing technician earns $22.93 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $17.50 for the lowest-paid 10% to $33.63 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $36,410 | $17.50 |
| Lower 25% | $39,800 | $19.13 |
| Median (typical) | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Upper 25% | $58,570 | $28.16 |
| Top 10% | $69,950 | $33.63 |
Sterile Processing Technician salary by state
Median annual pay for sterile processing technicians by state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Alaska | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Arizona | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Arkansas | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| California | $61,370 | $29.50 |
| Colorado | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Connecticut | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| Delaware | $53,300 | $25.62 |
| District of Columbia | $48,670 | $23.40 |
| Florida | $45,890 | $22.06 |
| Georgia | $47,850 | $23.00 |
| Hawaii | $51,630 | $24.82 |
| Idaho | $46,450 | $22.33 |
| Illinois | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| Indiana | $45,210 | $21.74 |
| Iowa | $39,930 | $19.20 |
| Kansas | $45,280 | $21.77 |
| Kentucky | $46,880 | $22.54 |
| Louisiana | $35,960 | $17.29 |
| Maine | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| Maryland | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Massachusetts | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| Michigan | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Minnesota | $50,070 | $24.07 |
| Mississippi | $35,160 | $16.90 |
| Missouri | $43,480 | $20.90 |
| Montana | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| Nebraska | $41,480 | $19.94 |
| Nevada | $46,640 | $22.42 |
| New Hampshire | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| New Jersey | $50,280 | $24.17 |
| New Mexico | $36,720 | $17.65 |
| New York | $57,320 | $27.56 |
| North Carolina | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| North Dakota | $38,910 | $18.71 |
| Ohio | $45,540 | $21.89 |
| Oklahoma | $43,460 | $20.89 |
| Oregon | $48,890 | $23.50 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| Rhode Island | $51,460 | $24.74 |
| South Carolina | $42,510 | $20.44 |
| South Dakota | $42,330 | $20.35 |
| Tennessee | $46,990 | $22.59 |
| Texas | $46,970 | $22.58 |
| Utah | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| Vermont | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Virginia | $46,580 | $22.39 |
| Washington | $58,830 | $28.28 |
| West Virginia | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| Wisconsin | $47,570 | $22.87 |
| Wyoming | $48,210 | $23.18 |
Highest-paying states for sterile processing technicians
- California: $61,370 median
- Washington: $58,830 median
- Massachusetts: $58,580 median
- New York: $57,320 median
- Delaware: $53,300 median
The lowest published medians are in Mississippi ($35,160), Alabama ($35,800), Louisiana ($35,960), New Mexico ($36,720), Arkansas ($38,100). The most sterile processing technician jobs are in California (8,720 jobs), Florida (5,250 jobs), New York (5,190 jobs), Texas (4,520 jobs), Pennsylvania (3,450 jobs).
How much does a sterile processing technician make a month?
At the median salary of $47,700, a sterile processing technician earns about $3,975 a month, $1,835 every two weeks or $917 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced sterile processing technician pay
New sterile processing technicians typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,410 a year and the lowest 25% under $39,800. The top 25% earn over $58,570 and the top 10% over $69,950. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Sterile Processing Technician salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Sterile processing technician | $47,700 |
| Medical assistant | $45,690 |
| Surgical tech | $64,650 |
| Radiology tech | $80,110 |
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 |
Sterile Processing Technician take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does a sterile processing technician make?
The US median is $47,700 a year ($22.93 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a sterile processing technician make an hour?
The median is about $22.93 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $17.50 and the top 10% about $33.63 an hour.
Which state pays sterile processing technicians the most?
California has the highest median at $61,370, followed by Washington ($58,830) and Massachusetts ($58,580).
How much does a sterile processing technician make a month?
At the US median of $47,700 a year, about $3,975 a month or $1,835 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level sterile processing technician make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,410 a year and the lowest 25% under $39,800, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of sterile processing technicians make?
The top 10% earn over $69,950 a year; the top 25% earn over $58,570.
How much does a sterile processing technician make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $61,370 in California, $46,970 in Texas, $45,890 in Florida, $57,320 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 31-9093, “Medical Equipment Preparers”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.