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The differences between central sterilization technicians and central processing technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a central sterilization technician and a central processing technician. Additionally, a central sterilization technician has an average salary of $38,089, which is higher than the $35,088 average annual salary of a central processing technician.
The top three skills for a central sterilization technician include sterile processing, patients and sterilizers. The most important skills for a central processing technician are patients, surgical instruments, and customer service.
| Central Sterilization Technician | Central Processing Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,089 | $35,088 |
| Hourly rate | $18.31 | $16.87 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 13,053 | 38,033 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A central sterilization technician is responsible for the cleanliness and sterilization of medical tools and equipment, including proper segregation of disposable items to prevent contamination and possible transmission of infections. Central sterilization technicians assist in providing high-quality patient services by ensuring the efficiency and performance of laboratory equipment and maintaining the adequacy of medical supplies. They also categorize medical equipment and keep them in safe and secure storage. Since central sterilization technicians often work inside a laboratory, they must follow strict safety protocols at all times, especially since they are exposed to chemicals and other fluids.
A central processing technician monitors the daily operations of a processing facility, ensuring equipment and machinery function smoothly and efficiently. They primarily conduct assessments and inspections to monitor and adjust machine parameters, perform quality tests on different products, and ensure that all procedures comply with industry standards and company regulations. Moreover, they also conduct regular maintenance checks on machines, troubleshoot issues, perform basic repairs, report to managers about faulty equipment and processes, maintain daily production records, and enforce safety standards and guidelines.
Central sterilization technicians and central processing technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Central Sterilization Technician | Central Processing Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,089 | $35,088 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $50,000 | Between $27,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Turlock, CA | Burlingame, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Michigan |
| Best paying company | Opelousas General Health System | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a central sterilization technician and a central processing technician in terms of educational background:
| Central Sterilization Technician | Central Processing Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | SUNY Stony Brook |
Here are the differences between central sterilization technicians' and central processing technicians' demographics:
| Central Sterilization Technician | Central Processing Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.3% Female, 60.7% | Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 9.6% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |