How to hire a sterile technician

How to hire a sterile technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sterile 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 technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sterile technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a sterile technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a sterile technician, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a sterile technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a sterile technician that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of sterile technician salaries for various roles:

   Type of Sterile Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Sterile Technician		$12-21
   Certified Phlebotomist	A certified phlebotomist is a medical professional who specializes in drawing blood through venipuncture or finger and heel pricks, preparing the samples for laboratory procedures. Besides collecting blood, a phlebotomist is also responsible for gathering patient information, verifying identification, reviewing medical histories, labeling vials, and maintaining records, including diagnostic findings... Show more	$12-20
   Mobile Phlebotomist	A mobile phlebotomist mostly travels to various places such as patients' homes and nursing facilities to draw blood samples for laboratory analysis and medical condition diagnosis. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering information to verify the patient's identification, coordinating with nurses or facility officials, labeling and organizing samples according to a set of protocols, delivering samples to designated areas, and maintaining patient records... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Aseptic Technique
   • Patient Care
   • Surgical Instruments
   • Customer Service
   • Instrument Trays
   • OSHA
   • Sterilizers
   • Cleanliness
   • Sterilization Equipment
   • Patient Rooms
   • Medical Equipment
   • Surgical Procedures
   • Sterrad

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Fill or prepare documentation assuring compliance with FDA, GMPIS, JIBIS, OSHA and other internal or external regulation.
   • Operate steam autoclaves for sterilizing instruments according to OSHA guidelines.
   • Provide great customer service to patients by delivering equipment need per nurse/physician request.
   • Experience in gas plasma, eto, steam sterilization.
   • Act as company leader of validation, instrumentation, PLC validation/control and FDA regulations.
   • Perform work assignments in all areas of SPD as well as numerous locations throughout the hospital.

   More sterile technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your sterile technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A sterile technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, sterile technicians' average salary in florida is 36% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sterile technicians 39% less than senior-level sterile technicians.
   • Certifications. A sterile technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a sterile technician's salary.

   Average sterile technician salary

   $35,347yearly

   $16.99 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level sterile technician salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average sterile technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$42,660	$21
   2	Michigan	$40,920	$20
   3	Georgia	$39,962	$19
   4	Massachusetts	$39,245	$19
   5	Indiana	$39,159	$19
   6	Connecticut	$38,974	$19
   7	Maine	$38,180	$18
   8	New York	$37,886	$18
   9	New Jersey	$37,624	$18
   10	Oregon	$37,174	$18
   11	Minnesota	$36,957	$18
   12	Colorado	$35,330	$17
   13	Arizona	$34,088	$16
   14	Ohio	$34,026	$16
   15	Illinois	$33,629	$16
   16	North Carolina	$32,799	$16
   17	Nebraska	$30,628	$15
   18	Texas	$30,364	$15
   19	Maryland	$29,348	$14
   20	Tennessee	$28,045	$13

   Average sterile technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Zoetis	$53,569	$25.75	9
   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	2
   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	21
   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	8
   14	Eurofins	$37,570	$18.06	9
   15	Novant Health	$37,402	$17.98	28
   16	Charles River Center	$37,308	$17.94
   17	Maxim Healthcare Group	$37,165	$17.87	4
   18	Goodwin Community Health	$37,134	$17.85
   19	Associates in Pediatric Therapy	$37,131	$17.85
   20	Heska	$37,045	$17.81

4. Writing a sterile technician job description

   A sterile 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 technician job description:

   Sterile technician job description example

   Katy Trail Community Health is seeking a full time Dental Assistant who will assisting the dentist(s) and dental hygienist(s) in the sterilization of rooms and equipment. The Sterilization Technician is also responsible for inventory control of dental instruments and supplies. The ability to work with persons from a wide diversity of social, ethnic and economic backgrounds is necessary. Sterilization technician must be able to multi-task and move quickly but efficiently to improve patient flow.
   ** The COVID-19 vaccination is mandated for all Katy Trail Community Health employees. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
   Tears down and disinfects operatory after patient treatment, as needed.
   Performs independent procedures as delegated and directed by the dentist in accordance with state regulation and law and Dental Department directive and protocol.
   Maintains Dental Department equipment in accordance with manufacturer's directions and Dental Department policy and protocol.
   Maintains all Dental Department areas in compliance with Dental Department directives and protocols as well as center policies and procedures relative to infection control, exposure control and safety issues.
   Maintains adequate operatory supplies and compiles a list of individual item shortages for inventory control and ordering purposes.
   Insures the sterility of all reusable dental instruments and equipment in accordance with Dental Department directive and protocol.
   Insures the proper disposal of all contaminated or potentially contaminated materials in accordance with Dental Department directive, center policy as well as state and federal regulation(s).
   Performs all functions in full compliance with the center's and the Dental Department Exposure and Infection Control Plan including but not limited to the use of Personal Protective Equipment and Universal Precautions.
   As directed by a supervisor, performs other related and/or necessary tasks to achieve organizational and programmatic goals and objectives.
   Responsible for personal compliance in full with all applicable federal, state, local and center rules, regulations,protocols and procedures including but not limited to the participation of a Dental Assistant in the provision of clinical dental care, as well as those relating to, but not limited to personnel issues, work place safety, public health and confidentiality.
   Maintain an above average attendance record. EDUCATION & TRAINING:
   High school diploma or GED certificate
   Ability to attend to multiple tasks at the same time and to prioritize assignments and responsibilities to ensure compliance with established deadlines and protocols.
   Effective oral and written communication skills in English are required. Effective oral communication skills in Spanish preferred. LICENSURE & CREDENTIALS:
   Current CPR (BLS) required
   Must be able to see, hear, read, write, kneel, stand, sit and lift up to 50 lbs.
   Must be able to handle stressful situations
   Possess cognitive skills necessary to understand medical terminology
   Maintain professional appearance and attitude at all times
   Must maintain patient confidentiality at all times
   Must demonstrate tact, patience, and good communication skills in dealing with patients, staff, and the public

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find sterile technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any sterile technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level sterile technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   To find sterile technician candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting sterile 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect sterile 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new sterile 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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How much does it cost to hire a sterile technician?