How to hire a sterilization specialist

How to hire a sterilization specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sterilization specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a sterilization specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sterilization specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The sterilization specialist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

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   Hiring the perfect sterilization specialist also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of sterilization specialists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Sterilization Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Sterilization Specialist		$18-39
   Central Processing Technician	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... Show more	$12-21
   Delivery Technician	Delivery Technicians are logistics personnel who ensure the safe delivery of the company's products. They usually handle products that require special assistance or assembly... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • OSHA
   • Autoclaves
   • AAMI
   • Sterilizers
   • ISO
   • FDA
   • Environmental Monitoring
   • GMP
   • Medical Equipment
   • Pathogens
   • Inventory Control
   • Surgical Procedures
   • Surgical Instruments
   • CAPA

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead cross functional project team to build user-friendly windows base customer support applications which interface with the OmniPlan/OmniPlus mainframe application.
   • Facilitate the sterilization process of dental instruments in compliance with OSHA standards.
   • Perform steam, ETO and gamma yearly revalidations in according with ISO guidelines.
   • Follow OSHA requirements for disinfecting and preparing dental instruments for both the dentists and hygienists.
   • Architect FDA product application submission strategy for parametric release.
   • Investigate audit findings with regulatory implications, prepare comprehensive report for senior leadership, and develop targeted CAPA.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, sterilization specialists' average salary in tennessee is 39% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sterilization specialists 54% less than senior-level sterilization specialists.
   • Certifications. A sterilization specialist 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 sterilization specialist's salary.

   Average sterilization specialist salary

   $57,057yearly

   $27.43 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level sterilization specialist salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 12, 2026

4. Writing a sterilization specialist job description

   A sterilization specialist 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. Below, you can find an example of a sterilization specialist job description:

   Sterilization specialist job description example

   Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 including two doses of a 2-dose series or a single dose of a 1-dose series prior to start date. Fully vaccinated is defined as 14 days post series completion date.
   
   Join the Urology team at 87th Ave . as a full time Central Sterile Specialist !
   In this role you will process, sterilize, and maintain instruments by following recommended and mandated procedures to ensure the safety and sterility of reusable instruments. You will maintain knowledge of disinfection/sterilization and perform quality control procedures on a routine basis. Schedule for position is Monday through Friday, 7:30 to 4:30. Pay range starts at $17.50/hr. and goes up based on experience.
   
   EDUCATION AND SKILLS
   High school diploma or equivalent required. Previous experience in central sterile services preferred. Certificate of completion from a formal central sterile processing technology course preferred. National certification preferred. Ability to work independently and adhere to specific guidelines. Detailed and procedure oriented. Must have predictable and reliable attendance.
   
   The above information is intended to indicate the general nature and level of work required in this position. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive description of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of those assigned to this job.
   
   We offer a competitive Total Rewards Program which includes insurance programs covering medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability, generous time off, holidays, education reimbursement, and a 401(k) plan. Eligibility for benefits is dependent on factors such as position type and FTE. Contact your recruiter for more information.
   
   Vancouver Clinic is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Vancouver Clinic does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, veteran, military status, religion, age, creed, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
   
   Vancouver Clinic is an alcohol and drug-free workplace. Offers are contingent on successful completion of drug screen, background screen, and immunization requirements.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right sterilization specialist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with sterilization specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit sterilization specialists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your sterilization specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit sterilization specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with sterilization specialist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 sterilization specialist

   Once you've found the sterilization specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new sterilization specialist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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