Sterile Processing Tech Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) sterile processing tech in the US earns $22.93 an hour, or $47,700 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 77,420 jobs (May 2025, occupation: medical equipment preparers). The middle half earn between $39,800 and $58,570 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $69,950.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $40,507 a year ($3,376 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in California ($48,792 a year) and lowest in Alabama ($29,501).
Sterile Processing Tech pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $17.50 | $36,410 | $31,435 |
| 25th percentile | $19.13 | $39,800 | $34,159 |
| Median (half earn more) | $22.93 | $47,700 | $40,507 |
| 75th percentile | $28.16 | $58,570 | $49,241 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $33.63 | $69,950 | $58,040 |
The average (mean) is $50,510 a year ($24.28 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 31-9093. Source
Sterile Processing Tech salary by state
The highest median pay for sterile processing techs is in California ($61,360), Washington ($58,820), Massachusetts ($58,570), New York ($57,320), Delaware ($53,310). The lowest is in Mississippi ($35,150), Alabama ($35,800), Louisiana ($35,960).
The most sterile processing techs work in California (8,720), Florida (5,250), New York (5,190).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in California ($48,792), Washington ($48,626), Massachusetts ($46,487), New York ($45,427), Delaware ($42,520). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $17.21 | $35,800 | $29,501 | 1,000 |
| Alaska | $24.00 | $49,920 | $42,041 | 220 |
| Arizona | $22.50 | $46,800 | $38,848 | 2,320 |
| Arkansas | $18.32 | $38,110 | $31,878 | 320 |
| California | $29.50 | $61,360 | $48,792 | 8,720 |
| Colorado | $22.93 | $47,690 | $38,433 | 1,950 |
| Connecticut | $23.07 | $47,990 | $38,781 | 1,060 |
| Delaware | $25.63 | $53,310 | $42,520 | 190 |
| District of Columbia | $23.40 | $48,670 | $41,286* | 310 |
| Florida | $22.06 | $45,880 | $39,044 | 5,250 |
| Georgia | $23.00 | $47,840 | $38,981 | 1,860 |
| Hawaii | $24.82 | $51,630 | $41,002 | 220 |
| Idaho | $22.33 | $46,450 | $37,891 | 580 |
| Illinois | $23.10 | $48,050 | $38,555 | 2,800 |
| Indiana | $21.74 | $45,220 | $36,317 | 1,750 |
| Iowa | $19.20 | $39,940 | $33,288 | 590 |
| Kansas | $21.77 | $45,280 | $36,835 | 740 |
| Kentucky | $22.54 | $46,880 | $38,325 | 1,120 |
| Louisiana | $17.29 | $35,960 | $30,361 | 620 |
| Maine | $22.53 | $46,860 | $37,908 | 510 |
| Maryland | $23.40 | $48,670 | $37,942 | 1,160 |
| Massachusetts | $28.16 | $58,570 | $46,487 | 1,900 |
| Michigan | $21.96 | $45,680 | $37,193 | 2,420 |
| Minnesota | $24.07 | $50,070 | $39,589 | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $16.90 | $35,150 | $29,747 | 350 |
| Missouri | $20.91 | $43,490 | $36,006 | 1,970 |
| Montana | $21.47 | $44,660 | $36,712 | 330 |
| Nebraska | $19.94 | $41,480 | $34,213 | 550 |
| Nevada | $22.43 | $46,650 | $39,663 | 510 |
| New Hampshire | $23.51 | $48,900 | $41,471 | 380 |
| New Jersey | $24.18 | $50,290 | $40,729 | 2,440 |
| New Mexico | $17.66 | $36,730 | $30,734 | 300 |
| New York | $27.56 | $57,320 | $45,427 | 5,190 |
| North Carolina | $21.70 | $45,140 | $37,124 | 2,900 |
| North Dakota | $18.71 | $38,920 | $33,452 | 350 |
| Ohio | $21.90 | $45,550 | $37,799 | 3,210 |
| Oklahoma | $20.89 | $43,450 | $35,688 | 690 |
| Oregon | $23.51 | $48,900 | $37,747 | 1,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $22.03 | $45,820 | $37,558 | 3,450 |
| Rhode Island | $24.74 | $51,460 | $41,070 | 190 |
| South Carolina | $20.44 | $42,520 | $35,005 | 1,160 |
| South Dakota | $20.35 | $42,330 | $36,192 | 480 |
| Tennessee | $22.59 | $46,990 | $39,937 | 1,590 |
| Texas | $22.58 | $46,970 | $39,920 | 4,520 |
| Utah | $23.07 | $47,990 | $38,608 | 600 |
| Vermont | $23.56 | $49,000 | $40,168 | 140 |
| Virginia | $22.40 | $46,590 | $37,750 | 1,840 |
| Washington | $28.28 | $58,820 | $48,626 | 1,670 |
| West Virginia | $21.55 | $44,820 | $36,967 | 530 |
| Wisconsin | $22.87 | $47,570 | $38,376 | 1,380 |
| Wyoming | $23.18 | $48,210 | $40,917 | 120 |
Overtime and pay rules for sterile processing techs
Sterile processing techs who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. Hospitals and residential care facilities may instead use the "8 and 80" system: overtime after 8 hours in a day or 80 hours in a fixed 14-day period, agreed with the employee in advance. Source The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a sterile processing tech's pay
On the median $47,700, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 15.1% of pay for a single filer: $3,544 of income tax and $3,649 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $31,600, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($2,385 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $286, so it costs about $2,099 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed sterile processing techs are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Vet Tech | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Pharmacy Tech | $45,750 | $22 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $23 an hour is how much a year.
Sterile Processing Tech salary questions
How much does a sterile processing tech make?
The median pay is $22.93 an hour, or $47,700 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $36,410 and the top 10% more than $69,950.
How much does a sterile processing tech make after taxes?
About $40,507 a year, or $1,558 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Alabama, at that state's own median pay, it is about $29,501.
How much does a sterile processing tech make a month?
About $3,975 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $3,376 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays sterile processing techs the most?
California, with a median of $61,360 a year ($29.50 an hour). Next are Washington ($58,820) and Massachusetts ($58,570). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in California.
How much does a sterile processing tech make an hour?
The median is $22.93 an hour. The middle half earn $19.13 to $28.16, and the top 10% more than $33.63.
Do sterile processing techs get paid overtime?
Sterile processing techs who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. Hospitals and residential care facilities may instead use the "8 and 80" system: overtime after 8 hours in a day or 80 hours in a fixed 14-day period, agreed with the employee in advance. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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