Sterile technician vs can sterilizer

The differences between sterile technicians and can sterilizers 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 technician and a can sterilizer. Additionally, a can sterilizer has an average salary of $91,917, which is higher than the $35,347 average annual salary of a sterile technician.

The top three skills for a sterile technician include patients, aseptic technique and patient care. The most important skills for a can sterilizer are OSHA, clean rooms, and medical equipment.

Sterile technician vs can sterilizer overview

	Sterile Technician	Can Sterilizer
Yearly salary	$35,347	$91,917
Hourly rate	$16.99	$44.19
Growth rate	8%	8%
Number of jobs	30,250	2,625
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 27%	Bachelor's Degree, 29%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

Sterile technician vs can sterilizer salary

Sterile technicians and can sterilizers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Sterile Technician	Can Sterilizer
Average salary	$35,347	$91,917
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $44,000	Between $59,000 And $141,000
Highest paying City	Daly City, CA	-
Highest paying state	California	-
Best paying company	Zoetis	-
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	-

Differences between sterile technician and can sterilizer education

There are a few differences between a sterile technician and a can sterilizer in terms of educational background:

	Sterile Technician	Can Sterilizer
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 27%	Bachelor's Degree, 29%
Most common major	Business	Biomedical Engineering
Most common college	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Sterile technician vs can sterilizer demographics

Here are the differences between sterile technicians' and can sterilizers' demographics:

	Sterile Technician	Can Sterilizer
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1%	Male, 44.4% Female, 55.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 9.3% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	Black or African American, 15.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.1% Asian, 7.8% White, 48.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between sterile technician and can sterilizer duties and responsibilities

Sterile technician example 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.

Can sterilizer example responsibilities.

Coordinate continuing education courses, schedule in office training sessions and manage first aid, CPR and a certifications.
Sterilize instruments, assist doctors in operations, interact with parents and patients on a regular basis
Familiarize with Patterson Eaglesoft software.

Sterile technician vs can sterilizer skills

Common sterile technician skills

Patients, 15%
Aseptic Technique, 11%
Patient Care, 10%
Surgical Instruments, 10%
Customer Service, 8%
Instrument Trays, 5%

Common can sterilizer skills

OSHA, 96%
Clean Rooms, 3%
Medical Equipment, 2%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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