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The differences between sterile processing technicians and sterile preparation 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 sterile processing technician and a sterile preparation technician. Additionally, a sterile preparation technician has an average salary of $43,124, 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 sterile preparation technician are chemotherapy, , and .
| Sterile Processing Technician | Sterile Preparation Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,299 | $43,124 |
| Hourly rate | $18.41 | $20.73 |
| Growth rate | 8% | - |
| Number of jobs | 21,592 | 11,057 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 30% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Sterile processing technicians and sterile preparation technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sterile Processing Technician | Sterile Preparation Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,299 | $43,124 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $50,000 | Between $25,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Blessing Hospital Emergency Room | - |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a sterile processing technician and a sterile preparation technician in terms of educational background:
| Sterile Processing Technician | Sterile Preparation Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 30% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Pharmacy |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Howard University |
Here are the differences between sterile processing technicians' and sterile preparation technicians' demographics:
| Sterile Processing Technician | Sterile Preparation Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.3% Female, 61.7% | Male, 100.0% Female, 0.0% |
| 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, 17.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 7.9% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |