What does a sterile technician do?
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.
Sterile technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real sterile technician resumes:
- 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.
- Adhere to all rules and regulations impose by the FDA to successfully pass monthly audits and inspections.
- Sterilize instrument trays according to the manufacture's specifications such as steam, gas plasma or ETO.
- Operate the sterilizing equipment such as the autoclave and gas sterrad that sterilizes equipment, gloves, and needles.
- Receive, store, and issue hospital medical supplies to load in Pyxis storage units to various floors in the hospital.
- Operate autoclaves within guidelines and procedures.
- Prepare instrument sets for surgery and other hospital departments.
- Sterilize instruments, assist doctors in operations, interact with parents and patients on a regular basis
- Monitor sterilizers weekly using spore tests and maintain sterilization records.
- Repair dental sterilizers which include electrical and small motor repair.
Sterile technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Sterile Technicians are proficient in Patients, Aseptic Technique, and Patient Care. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Math skills, and Dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Sterile Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 15%
Sterilized instruments, assisted doctors in operations, interacted with parents and patients on a regular basis
- Aseptic Technique, 11%
Applied the understanding of microbiology, infection control and aseptic technique during the sterilization process.
- Patient Care, 10%
Handled patient care preparation and sterilization procedures.
- Surgical Instruments, 10%
Decontaminated surgical instruments, endoscopes, containers, and equipment supplies using detergents and disinfecting solutions.
- Customer Service, 8%
Coordinated with other departments to provide excellent customer service.
- Instrument Trays, 5%
Prepared, packaged and sterilized instruments and instrument trays according to established guidelines; ensured that instrumentation was functioning properly.
Most sterile technicians use their skills in "patients," "aseptic technique," and "patient care" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential sterile technician responsibilities here:
Dexterity. sterile technicians are also known for dexterity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to sterile technician responsibilities, because "heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must perform many tasks, such as disassembling engine parts, connecting or attaching components, and using hand tools, with a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination." A sterile technician resume example shows how dexterity is used in the workplace: "sterilized medical equipment lifted heavy equipment delivered medical equipment to specific destinations handled patient requests"
Mechanical skills. For certain sterile technician responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "mechanical skills." The day-to-day duties of a sterile technician rely on this skill, as "heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what sterile technicians do: "maintain repair, calibrate and/or troubleshoots sterilization equipment including pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical and electrical systems. "
Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for a sterile technician to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what sterile technicians relies on this skill, since "heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must maintain accurate service records and parts inventories." How this skill relates to sterile technician duties can be seen in an example from a sterile technician resume snippet: "develop, implement, and monitor departmental policies and procedures which supports the organizational goals and business objectives. "
Physical strength. While "physical strength" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to sterile technician responsibilities. Much of what a sterile technician does relies on this skill, seeing as "heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must be able to lift and move heavy equipment, tools, and parts without risking injury." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of sterile technicians: "transport patients via wheelchair or stretcher and assist nurses with patients physically and mentally; unpacked/peel packed o.r. "
The three companies that hire the most sterile technicians are:
- Emory Healthcare30 sterile technicians jobs
- West Coast Fertility
10 sterile technicians jobs
- Baptist Health Home Care9 sterile technicians jobs
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Compare different sterile technicians
Sterile technician vs. Oxygen equipment aide
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. They are also in charge of keeping laboratory equipment clean, discarding trash appropriately, and organizing supplies according to policies, ordering new supplies when necessary. Above all, a certified phlebotomist maintains an open and transparent communication line with nurses and physicians for an efficient workflow.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, sterile technician responsibilities require skills like "patients," "aseptic technique," "patient care," and "surgical instruments." Meanwhile a typical oxygen equipment aide has skills in areas such as "medical gases," "inventory control," "dirty equipment," and "infection control procedures." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that oxygen equipment aides earn slightly differ from sterile technicians. In particular, oxygen equipment aides are 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a sterile technician. Additionally, they're 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sterile technician vs. Oxygen equipment preparer
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. Furthermore, as a mobile phlebotomist, it is essential to monitor the quantity and cleanliness of supply, properly discarding used items such as syringes and cotton.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real sterile technician resumes. While sterile technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "patients," "aseptic technique," "customer service," and "instrument trays," oxygen equipment preparers use skills like "hospital locations," "kitchen prep," "laboratory equipment," and "traction."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Oxygen equipment preparers tend to reach higher levels of education than sterile technicians. In fact, they're 8.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sterile technician vs. Certified phlebotomist
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, sterile technicians are more likely to have skills like "surgical instruments," "customer service," "instrument trays," and "osha." But a certified phlebotomist is more likely to have skills like "blood specimens," "phlebotomy procedures," "specimen collection," and "laboratory specimens."
When it comes to education, certified phlebotomists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to sterile technicians. In fact, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Sterile technician vs. Mobile phlebotomist
Types of sterile technician
Updated January 8, 2025
