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The average salary for a Sterile Technician stands at approximately $35,347 per year or around $17 per hour. Regional factors heavily influence this figure, with technicians in states like California and New York typically earning more due to higher living costs. In cities such as Los Angeles and New York City, salaries can exceed the national average, reflecting demand for skilled professionals in these areas.
Moreover, experience plays a significant role in salary determination. Entry-level technicians may start at a lower range, while those with several years of experience can command higher wages. Specializing in specific areas, such as surgical instruments or equipment sterilization, can also lead to better compensation.
Opportunities for advancement abound in this field. With additional certifications and education, Sterile Technicians can advance to supervisory or management positions, substantially increasing their earning potential. Understanding state-specific salary ranges and trends can help prospective employees make informed decisions about their career paths and salary negotiations.
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The highest-paying states for sterile technicians are California, Michigan, and Oklahoma. The lowest average sterile technician salary states are Texas, Maryland, and South Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $39,252 | $18.87 |
| 2 | Vermont | $39,037 | $18.77 |
| 3 | Michigan | $40,942 | $19.68 |
| 4 | Georgia | $39,954 | $19.21 |
| 5 | Nevada | $40,226 | $19.34 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $40,402 | $19.42 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $38,867 | $18.69 |
| 8 | Maine | $37,992 | $18.27 |
| 9 | Indiana | $38,940 | $18.72 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $39,202 | $18.85 |
| 11 | New York | $37,934 | $18.24 |
| 12 | Washington | $39,335 | $18.91 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $35,271 | $16.96 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $37,674 | $18.11 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $36,934 | $17.76 |
| 16 | California | $42,281 | $20.33 |
| 17 | Virginia | $38,806 | $18.66 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $37,188 | $17.88 |
| 19 | Idaho | $37,552 | $18.05 |
| 20 | Alaska | $34,444 | $16.56 |
| 21 | South Carolina | $33,843 | $16.27 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $35,006 | $16.83 |
| 23 | Colorado | $35,346 | $16.99 |
| 24 | Oregon | $37,248 | $17.91 |
| 25 | Ohio | $34,493 | $16.58 |
| 26 | Missouri | $33,382 | $16.05 |
| 27 | Kansas | $34,235 | $16.46 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $35,509 | $17.07 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $32,782 | $15.76 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $38,657 | $18.59 |
| 31 | Arizona | $34,152 | $16.42 |
| 32 | Illinois | $33,622 | $16.16 |
| 33 | Montana | $34,789 | $16.73 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $32,513 | $15.63 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $32,297 | $15.53 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $32,326 | $15.54 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $32,600 | $15.67 |
| 38 | Iowa | $30,894 | $14.85 |
| 39 | Delaware | $31,503 | $15.15 |
| 40 | Alabama | $30,899 | $14.86 |
| 41 | Utah | $30,612 | $14.72 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $28,068 | $13.49 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $30,582 | $14.70 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $30,950 | $14.88 |
| 45 | Florida | $26,861 | $12.91 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $31,725 | $15.25 |
| 47 | Texas | $30,335 | $14.58 |
| 48 | Maryland | $29,267 | $14.07 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $28,752 | $13.82 |
| 50 | District of Columbia | $30,995 | $14.90 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $28,941 | $13.91 |
The highest-paying cities for sterile technicians are Daly City, CA, Livonia, MI, and Atlanta, GA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daly City, CA | $42,660 | $20.51 |
| 2 | Livonia, MI | $40,920 | $19.67 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | $39,962 | $19.21 |
| 4 | Danvers, MA | $39,245 | $18.87 |
| 5 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,159 | $18.83 |
| 6 | Hartford, CT | $38,974 | $18.74 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $37,886 | $18.21 |
| 9 | Edison, NJ | $37,624 | $18.09 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $37,174 | $17.87 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $36,957 | $17.77 |
| 12 | Englewood, CO | $35,330 | $16.99 |
| 13 | Scottsdale, AZ | $34,088 | $16.39 |
| 14 | Cincinnati, OH | $34,026 | $16.36 |
| 15 | Orland Park, IL | $33,629 | $16.17 |
| 16 | Winston-Salem, NC | $32,799 | $15.77 |
| 17 | Lincoln, NE | $30,628 | $14.72 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $30,364 | $14.60 |
| 19 | Baltimore, MD | $29,348 | $14.11 |
| 20 | Knoxville, TN | $28,045 | $13.48 |
A sterile technician's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $44,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $35,347 | $2,946 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of sterile technicians are can sterilizer, sterilization specialist, and oxygen equipment preparer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Phlebotomist | $34,509 | $2,876 | $16.59 | 44,574 |
| Mobile Phlebotomist | $33,475 | $2,790 | $16.09 | 13,734 |
| Central Processing Technician | $35,088 | $2,924 | $16.87 | 38,033 |
| Medical Supply Technician | $38,049 | $3,171 | $18.29 | 79,321 |
| Central Sterilization Technician | $38,089 | $3,174 | $18.31 | 13,053 |
| Delivery Technician | $38,006 | $3,167 | $18.27 | 33,738 |
Top companies hiring sterile technicians now:
Sterile technician salaries at Zoetis and New York University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average sterile technician salary at companies like Novo Nordisk and BD are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoetis | $53,569 | $25.75 |
| 2 | New York University | $46,771 | $22.49 |
| 3 | Novo Nordisk | $45,634 | $21.94 |
| 4 | BD | $44,087 | $21.20 |
| 5 | Alcon | $43,400 | $20.87 |
| 6 | Four Seasons | $42,271 | $20.32 |
| 7 | KPG | $42,271 | $20.32 |
| 8 | University of Colorado Boulder | $41,564 | $19.98 |
| 9 | Grace Health | $40,482 | $19.46 |
| 10 | Baptist Health Home Care | $40,140 | $19.30 |
| 11 | Community Health Connections | $39,337 | $18.91 |
| 12 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $38,009 | $18.27 |
| 13 | Care New England Health System | $37,936 | $18.24 |
| 14 | Eurofins | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| 15 | Novant Health | $37,402 | $17.98 |
| 16 | Charles River Center | $37,308 | $17.94 |
| 17 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $37,165 | $17.87 |
| 18 | Goodwin Community Health | $37,134 | $17.85 |
| 19 | Associates in Pediatric Therapy | $37,131 | $17.85 |
| 20 | Heska | $37,045 | $17.81 |
The average sterile technician salary has risen by $7,971 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average sterile technician earned $27,376 annually, but today, they earn $35,347 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for sterile technicians over the last decade.
Compare sterile technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare sterile technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,300 | $16.99 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $34,100 | $16.40 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $33,000 | $15.87 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $32,200 | $15.49 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $31,300 | $15.07 | +3.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Health | Sterile Reprocessing Tech | Chelsea, MI | 06/30/2025 | $38,150 |
| Texas A&M University | Sterilization Technician | Dallas, TX | 06/30/2025 | $37,107 |
| Eurofins Horti | Sterile Technician/Medical Housekeeping-Morning and Night Shift | Redmond, WA | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Job Listingsmarin Community Clinics | Dental Sterilizer Technician | San Rafael, CA | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| Northwestern Medicine | Sterilizing Tech 1 Days | DeKalb, IL | 06/28/2025 | $38,255 |
| Pomona Valley Hospital | Sterile Proc Tech II | Pomona, CA | 06/28/2025 | $45,351 |
| Navitspartners | Medical Equipment Sterilization Technician-Mestech | New York, NY | 06/28/2025 | $54,262 |
| Eurofins Scientific | Sterile Technician/Medical Housekeeping-Morning and Night Shift | Redmond, WA | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Eurofins Horti | Sterilization Technician | San Jose, CA | 06/27/2025 | $52,175 |
| Actalent | Sterilization Tech | Boston, MA | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
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