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The differences between sterile processing technicians and scrub technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a sterile processing technician, becoming a scrub technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a scrub technician has an average salary of $38,718, which is higher than the $38,299 average annual salary of a sterile processing technician.
The top three skills for a sterile processing technician include patients, sterilizers and IAHCSMM. The most important skills for a scrub technician are patients, BLS, and surgical procedures.
| Sterile Processing Technician | Scrub Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,299 | $38,718 |
| Hourly rate | $18.41 | $18.61 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 21,592 | 71,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 30% | Associate Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A sterile processing technician is responsible for performing the sterilization process and decontamination for all laboratory equipment and medical equipment to avoid the spread of infections, especially on medical procedures and critical laboratory tests. Sterile processing technicians follow a strict process of sterilizing equipment, including replacing defective tools, and proper waste procedures of disposable items. They must also adhere to the safety and sanitary standards on duty. They monitor inventories, deliver sterilized equipment to appropriate medical personnel, and organize equipment for medical procedures.
Scrub technicians are surgical technologists who are responsible for assisting surgeons and the surgical team in the operating room. These technicians must set out and sterilize the necessary instruments while helping each member of the surgical team put on their gloves and gowns during a surgical procedure. They are required to pass instruments, sponges, and dressings to the surgeon throughout the procedure. Scrub technicians must also ensure that the operating room and reusable instruments are clean before and after each surgery.
Sterile processing technicians and scrub technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sterile Processing Technician | Scrub Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,299 | $38,718 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $50,000 | Between $30,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | White Plains, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Blessing Hospital Emergency Room | Lawrence General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a sterile processing technician and a scrub technician in terms of educational background:
| Sterile Processing Technician | Scrub Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 30% | Associate Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between sterile processing technicians' and scrub technicians' demographics:
| Sterile Processing Technician | Scrub Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.3% Female, 61.7% | Male, 20.5% Female, 79.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 9.5% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 4.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 13% |