Central sterilization technician vs technician

The differences between central sterilization technicians and 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 technician. Additionally, a central sterilization technician has an average salary of $38,089, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.

The top three skills for a central sterilization technician include sterile processing, patients and sterilizers. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Central sterilization technician vs technician overview

	Central Sterilization Technician	Technician
Yearly salary	$38,089	$38,045
Hourly rate	$18.31	$18.29
Growth rate	8%	1%
Number of jobs	13,053	596,842
Job satisfaction	-	2
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age	43	40
Years of experience	2	2

What does a central sterilization technician do?

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.

What does a technician do?

Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.

Central sterilization technician vs technician salary

Central sterilization technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Central Sterilization Technician	Technician
Average salary	$38,089	$38,045
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $50,000	Between $24,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City	Turlock, CA	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	California	Hawaii
Best paying company	Opelousas General Health System	Microsoft
Best paying industry	Health Care	Telecommunication

Differences between central sterilization technician and technician education

There are a few differences between a central sterilization technician and a technician in terms of educational background:

	Central Sterilization Technician	Technician
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common major	Medical Technician	Business
Most common college	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	-

Central sterilization technician vs technician demographics

Here are the differences between central sterilization technicians' and technicians' demographics:

	Central Sterilization Technician	Technician
Average age	43	40
Gender ratio	Male, 39.3% Female, 60.7%	Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8%
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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	9%	2%

Differences between central sterilization technician and technician duties and responsibilities

Central sterilization technician example responsibilities.

Initiate tests and activate steam autoclaves, Sterrad sterilizer, ETO, gas plasma sterilizer, package sealer and cart washer.
Operate all sterilizers and sterilization equipment.
Maintain compliance with various standardization agencies such as AAMI and AORN.
Maintain all statewide OSHA guidelines and all internal policies and procedures of the hospital.
Operate steam, gas (ETO), and other methods of sterilization according to each hospital.
Maintain the cleanliness of work areas as required by completing daily logs and shift duties according to departmental policy.

Technician example responsibilities.

Achieve multiple ASE certifications within first year of employment.
Implement and manage UHF radio base stations, repeaters, and command network, effectively linking all regional headquarters.
Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
Maintain numerous automate scripts to assist in managing Linux systems.
Manage, troubleshot and repair multiple wireless technologies including fiber optic transmission switches.
Install peripherals including printers, fax machines, scanners, and smartphones.

Central sterilization technician vs technician skills

Common central sterilization technician skills

Sterile Processing, 21%
Patients, 21%
Sterilizers, 9%
Customer Service, 6%
Sterrad, 4%
Data Entry, 4%

Common technician skills

Patients, 16%
Customer Service, 14%
Patient Care, 8%
Hand Tools, 6%
Diagnosis, 5%
Preventative Maintenance, 4%

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Central Sterilization Technician
Central Sterilization Technician vs Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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