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Job outlook for sterile technicians in the United States
Sterile technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected sterile technician job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 17,700 new jobs for sterile technicians are projected over the next decade.
Sterile technician salaries have increased 13% for sterile technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 42,369 sterile technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 30,250 active sterile technician job openings in the US.
The average sterile technician salary is $35,347.
Are sterile technician jobs in demand?
Sterile technician job and salary trends over time
Sterile technician jobs over time
Sterile technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 42,369 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 39,391 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 39,411 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 38,518 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 37,347 | 0.01% |
Average sterile technician salary over time
Sterile technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,347 | $16.99 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $34,108 | $16.40 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $33,015 | $15.87 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $32,222 | $15.49 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $31,339 | $15.07 | +3.2% |
Sterile technician jobs by state
Most common states for sterile technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 170 | 13% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 85 | 11% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 138 | 10% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 61 | 10% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 642 | 9% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 86 | 9% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 452 | 8% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 278 | 8% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 245 | 8% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 845 | 7% |
| 11 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 718 | 7% |
| 12 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 700 | 7% |
| 13 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 621 | 7% |
| 14 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 453 | 7% |
| 15 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 447 | 7% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 418 | 7% |
| 17 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 337 | 7% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 220 | 7% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 135 | 7% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 72 | 7% |
Most common cities for sterile technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta | 21 | 4% | $39,962 |
| 2 | Livonia | 4 | 4% | $40,920 |
| 3 | Bangor | 1 | 3% | $37,556 |
| 4 | Bayonne | 1 | 2% | $37,708 |
| 5 | Bridgewater | 1 | 2% | $37,610 |
| 6 | Baltimore | 4 | 1% | $29,349 |
| 7 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $39,232 |
| 8 | Salt Lake City | 2 | 1% | $30,573 |
| 9 | Alameda | 1 | 1% | $42,582 |
| 10 | Amarillo | 1 | 1% | $30,368 |
| 11 | Centennial | 1 | 1% | $35,321 |
| 12 | Clearwater | 1 | 1% | $26,951 |
| 13 | Houston | 3 | 0% | $30,216 |
| 14 | San Diego | 3 | 0% | $42,082 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $42,390 |
| 16 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $30,991 |
| 17 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $35,313 |
| 18 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $30,364 |
Sterile Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of sterile technician experts
Daniela Taranto
What Sterile Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Daniela Taranto: Post Covid-19 dental professions have seen a jump in salaries in my opinion. During Covid there was a sense of many leaving the profession, and post it seems that dental professional jobs have consistently been in high demand. The hours are often flexible, with many full and part-time options, evenings, or weekends. The flexibility is great for college students and parents as well. Becoming a dental assistant is a great career path for those considering any career in the dental field. It can be a steppingstone and exposure to other professions such as dentist, dental specialist, dental hygienists. as well as insurance, dental coding, and administrative positions.
What will help Sterile Technicians increase their earning potential?
Daniela Taranto: A Dental Assistants responsibility can vary by state, or by certifications earned. But in general, they include preparing dental operatories for a wide range of dental procedures including Composite restorations (fillings), Endodontic procedures (root canals), surgical procedures including extractions and dental implants, Periodontal procedures including dental cleanings, and deeper scaling and root planing, Prosthetic/Cosmetic dental work including crowns, bridges, dentures, or cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening or veneers. Once the DA has prepared the operatory, they stay and work directly with the dentist using four-handed dentistry to facilitate an efficient and effective workflow. In addition to having extensive knowledge on these procedures and their armamentaria, DA's are often responsible for adhering to a high level of infection control procedures. Preparing instruments for sterilization and operating the varying machines that are used to achieve that is also part of the DAs daily responsibilities. Furthermore, dental assistants are also trained in a variety of dental materials. They can mix and prepare cements, alginates, and other impression materials. New technology offers dental assistants to obtain digital scans of patients' oral cavity as well. They can work in and are needed in all dental practices. The occupation of a DA offers the option to make a career out of it by earning additional certifications for expanded functions, or use it as a steppingstone towards a career in dental hygiene, or dentistry. Other responsibilities can include front desk work as well, scheduling appointments, answering phones, and other administrative tasks. The role of the dental assistant is vital to successful dental practices.
What general advice would you give to a Sterile Technician?
Aaron Benitez CDA, RDA, RDHAP, MSDH: In California, it is an exciting time to be a Dental Assistant. The industry has been gradually adding more technologically advanced procedures like 3-D printing, intra-oral scanning, along with Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistance. A Dental Assistant needs to possess the traditional knowledge to be able to learn these new advanced procedures. In order to make themselves more competitive, the Dental Assistant must possess the knowledge and hands-on experience of these new procedures.
Also, since in California the minimum wage is increasing beyond the amount that a starting Dental Assistant could potentially earn, learning new advanced techniques is more relevant.
What Sterile Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Aaron Benitez CDA, RDA, RDHAP, MSDH: In the Dental Assisting program at West Los Angeles College, the advice that we give our students includes several topics. The main recommendation is to take the California's Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) exam. Other advice includes, creating a professional resume (cloud based and on paper), always be respectful of other's time and having a professional mindset. These are qualities that are timeless.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Sterile Technicians?
Carol Donohue: Before the pandemic, the Bureau of Labor Statistics rated dental assisting as one of the fastest growing careers, and it has continued to increase as many dental assistants have left to stay home with young children or elderly parents/relatives. Most dental offices report that they are extremely busy and trying to catch up from the work that was put on hold due to the pandemic. At one point dental offices were only seeing emergencies only. As the medical field continues to expand, opportunities for stable employment in this rewarding industry are within reach
What will help Sterile Technicians increase their earning potential?
Carol Donohue: Increasing earning potential can come from various avenues which range from being prepared from the interview, staying current with continuing education as dentistry is always evolving in areas such as infection control, dental materials and more. The more knowledge, training, and education dental assistants have, the more they can contribute to the practice as well, making dental assistants an integral part of any successful dental practice.
What's a day at work look like for a Sterile Technician?
Carol Donohue: There are additional precautionary measures that are taken due to COVID-19 that has changed what the typical day for a dental assistant looks like. A typical workday now starts with temperature checks as part of the Covid-19 screenings for all patients and staff. Pre-screening of patients by phone and also screening patients upon their arrival to the dental office. Upon arrival patients call from their cars and must wear a face mask and come alone if possible, fill out a Covid screening form and have temperature taken prior to being seated. Additional responsibilities include disinfecting and cleaning the office more than ever. Being super diligent about infection control protocols that have been added as a result of the pandemic. Add to this the additional personal protective equipment (PPE) that is recommended from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that is required under the Covid-19 protocols. These include head covering, a face shield, masks and disposable lab jackets. Despite the changes that dental assistants have been navigating through, one thing remains the same, they continue to embrace their underlying purpose, which is providing care for patients in need.
During a procedure, the dental assistant helps the dentist by handing them instruments and holding suction hoses to keep the patient's mouth clean and dry. Under a dentist's guidance, they may also take x-rays and perform lab tests. After a procedure, the dental assistant will review care instructions with the patient. They will then restock the examining room with supplies for the next patient.
After a procedure, a dental assistant will review care instructions with the patient. They will then restock the examining room with supplies for the next patient.