Sterile Processing Technician Hourly Pay

What do SPD techs make per hour? National median is $21.15/hr, with significant variation by state, experience, and certification status.

Hourly Pay Overview

$21.15

National Median

$14.90

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$29.80

Top Earners (90th %ile)

Hourly pay for sterile processing technicians ranges from approximately $14.90 at entry level to over $29.80 for experienced, certified technicians in high-paying markets. Most full-time SPD techs work 36-40 hours per week, with many departments offering overtime opportunities.

Shift Differentials

Since SPD departments operate 24/7, off-shift positions earn premium pay on top of the base hourly rate:

Day shift (7am-3pm)

Base rate($21.15 effective)

Evening shift (3pm-11pm)

+$1.50-3.00/hr($23.40 effective)

Night shift (11pm-7am)

+$2.50-4.50/hr($24.65 effective)

Weekend differential

+$1.00-2.50/hr($22.90 effective)

Hourly Pay by State

StateHourly MedianAnnual Equivalent

California$25.40$52,840 Washington$24.65$51,280 Massachusetts$24.24$50,420 Connecticut$23.98$49,870 New York$23.69$49,280 Alaska$23.52$48,930 New Jersey$23.38$48,640 Hawaii$22.89$47,620 Rhode Island$22.52$46,840 Oregon$22.35$46,480 Colorado$22.22$46,210 Maryland$22.06$45,890 New Hampshire$21.75$45,240 Delaware$21.48$44,680 Minnesota$21.31$44,320

View all 50 states

Certification Pay Bump

Certified sterile processing technicians consistently earn more per hour than their non-certified peers:

No certification

$17.50($36,400/yr)

CRCST or CSPDT

$21.15($44,000/yr)

CRCST + CIS

$23.50($48,900/yr)

Lead/Supervisor (CRCST + CHL)

$27.80($57,800/yr)

Certification is the fastest path to higher pay

Average pay increase of $3.65/hr (over $7,500/year) with CRCST certification.

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