How to hire a sterile processing technician

How to hire a sterile processing technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sterile processing technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a sterile processing technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sterile processing technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a sterile processing technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The sterile processing technician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A sterile processing technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, sterile processing technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of sterile processing technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Sterile Processing Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Sterile Processing Technician		$13-24
   Medical Supply Technician	A medical supply technician works at medical facilities where they are primarily in charge of sterilizing instruments and equipment, delivering in a timely and efficient manner. Part of their job is to run sterile tests according to protocols and health standards, monitor and maintain inventory records, and place orders to ensure adequate stock of medical supplies... Show more	$13-24
   Technician	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... Show more	$11-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Sterilizers
   • IAHCSMM
   • Customer Service
   • Medical Terminology
   • Cleanliness
   • Medical Equipment
   • AAMI
   • OSHA
   • Sterrad
   • Surgical Procedures
   • Patient Care Equipment
   • Sterilization Equipment
   • Autoclaves

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Connect the patients to monitors such as EKG leads and pulse ox monitor.
   • Train Honduras hospital personnel on AAMI and IAHCSMM standards.
   • Position or transport patients to and from the Endo suite.
   • Experience with portable procedures in ER, IR and ICU.
   • Assist doctor's with ERCP procedures RX system (short wire).
   • Blood draw's, EKG'S, splinting and assisting doctor with sutures.

   More sterile processing technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the sterile processing technician job description is a good way to get more applicants. A sterile processing technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a sterile processing technician in Maryland may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level sterile processing technician. Additionally, a sterile processing technician with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average sterile processing technician salary

   $38,299yearly

   $18.41 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level sterile processing technician salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average sterile processing technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$57,110	$27
   2	Massachusetts	$54,970	$26
   3	Connecticut	$45,274	$22
   4	New Hampshire	$44,149	$21
   5	Florida	$42,799	$21
   6	Ohio	$42,084	$20
   7	Washington	$42,073	$20
   8	Vermont	$42,034	$20
   9	Maine	$41,782	$20
   10	Michigan	$41,758	$20
   11	Oregon	$41,022	$20
   12	Georgia	$40,593	$20
   13	Indiana	$39,351	$19
   14	North Dakota	$38,783	$19
   15	New York	$38,730	$19
   16	Arizona	$37,923	$18
   17	Colorado	$37,585	$18
   18	Illinois	$36,940	$18
   19	Tennessee	$36,652	$18
   20	Kansas	$34,764	$17

   Average sterile processing technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Blessing Hospital Emergency Room	$63,852	$30.70	1
   2	TAJ Technologies	$63,245	$30.41
   3	Roper St. Francis Healthcare	$62,343	$29.97	3
   4	Montage Health	$61,271	$29.46	3
   5	Southern California Hospitals	$60,760	$29.21
   6	American Mobile Healthcare	$60,190	$28.94
   7	Favorite Healthcare Staffing	$60,003	$28.85
   8	MLK Community Healthcare	$59,498	$28.60	3
   9	MedPro Healthcare Staffing	$59,476	$28.59
   10	Valley Presbyterian Hospital	$59,455	$28.58
   11	Marin General Hospital: Foley Pamela MD	$59,302	$28.51
   12	Methodist Hospital for Surgery	$58,943	$28.34
   13	Estes Park Health	$58,933	$28.33	1
   14	PPGH	$58,829	$28.28
   15	Aya Healthcare	$58,670	$28.21
   16	Shriners Hospitals for Children	$57,671	$27.73	3
   17	Vail Health	$56,406	$27.12	3
   18	Valley View Hospital	$56,357	$27.09	2
   19	Cook Children's Medical Center	$56,297	$27.07
   20	CentraState Healthcare System	$55,909	$26.88

4. Writing a sterile processing technician job description

   A sterile processing technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a sterile processing technician job description:

   Sterile processing technician job description example

   MercyOne Newton Medical Center is a fully owned hospital of MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and a member of MercyOne Network.
   
   It is located in the city of Newton, Iowa, county seat of Jasper County. Positioned on Interstate 80, the nation's only east/west transcontinental interstate highway, Newton is about 30 miles east of the Des Moines metropolitan area, which has a population in excess of 400,000.
   
   MercyOne Newton has a well-deserved reputation for bucking the trend of diminished health care in rural America by enhancing the quantity and quality of its services during the last two decades. This has been accomplished by expanding, remodeling and providing technological improvements to its physical facilities and by adding new physicians.
   
   MercyOne Newton employees and local doctors are known for their highly productive "Iowa work ethic," emphasis on compassion and quality patient service, and loyalty to the hospital and the community.
   
   Our campus in Newton has 48 beds and about 200,000 square feet of space. Attached to the hospital is a 50,000-square-foot medical office building containing local physician practices and the hospital's physical medicine and rehabilitation center.
   
   MercyOne Newton is one of the largest employers in Jasper County, along with the local school system and the county government.
   Responsibilities
   JOB SUMMARY: Demonstrates expertise in all aspects of sterile processing. Responsible for coordinating sterile and non-sterile supply needs for Operating Room and other hospital departments. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Demonstrates knowledge of and documented competence in the operation of specific sterilization systems. Demonstrates the ability to plan, lead, organize and develop the staff and service of the Central Supply Department Demonstrates ability to establish priorities and organize effectively. Demonstrates a positive attitude and interest while coordinating with other hospital departments. Demonstrates knowledge of national guidelines for sterile processing. Assumes responsibility for own growth and education. Demonstrates written and verbal skills. Demonstrates commitment to Customer Service. If licensed as RN or LPN, able to fill in as staff nurse in OR as needed.
   Qualifications
   EDUCATION: Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, or Central Supply Technician with certification. EXPERIENCE: Two (2) years' experience in the Central Supply area or Operating Room. QUALIFICATIONS: If RN or LPN, currently licensed in State of Iowa; If Central Supply Technician, certification from CSSPD or IAHCSMM.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right sterile processing technician for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with sterile processing technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit sterile processing technicians who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your sterile processing technician job on Zippia to find and recruit sterile processing technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting sterile processing technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new sterile processing technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect sterile processing technician candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new sterile processing technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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