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The differences between sterile technicians and central processing 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 technician and a central processing technician. Additionally, a sterile technician has an average salary of $35,347, which is higher than the $35,088 average annual salary of a central processing technician.
The top three skills for a sterile technician include patients, aseptic technique and patient care. The most important skills for a central processing technician are patients, surgical instruments, and customer service.
| Sterile Technician | Central Processing Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $35,347 | $35,088 |
| Hourly rate | $16.99 | $16.87 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 30,250 | 38,033 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
In the medical industry, a sterile technician is in charge of cleaning and sterilizing surgical and medical tools and devices. They must also operate and organize equipment, monitor the inventory of supplies, maintain official records, coordinate with staff, transport supplies, and keep the cleanliness of different operating areas, decontaminating them to maintain a safe and healthy workflow. Furthermore, a sterile technician must set-up and prepare equipment for procedures, all while adhering to the facility's safety policies and regulations.
A central processing technician monitors the daily operations of a processing facility, ensuring equipment and machinery function smoothly and efficiently. They primarily conduct assessments and inspections to monitor and adjust machine parameters, perform quality tests on different products, and ensure that all procedures comply with industry standards and company regulations. Moreover, they also conduct regular maintenance checks on machines, troubleshoot issues, perform basic repairs, report to managers about faulty equipment and processes, maintain daily production records, and enforce safety standards and guidelines.
Sterile technicians and central processing technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sterile Technician | Central Processing Technician | |
| Average salary | $35,347 | $35,088 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $44,000 | Between $27,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Daly City, CA | Burlingame, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Michigan |
| Best paying company | Zoetis | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a sterile technician and a central processing technician in terms of educational background:
| Sterile Technician | Central Processing Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 27% | Bachelor's Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Business | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | SUNY Stony Brook |
Here are the differences between sterile technicians' and central processing technicians' demographics:
| Sterile Technician | Central Processing Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% | Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3% |
| 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, 8.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |