AR · North Little Rock · Updated October 15, 2026

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in North Little Rock, AR

Sterile Processing Technicians in the North Little Rock area earn a median of $17.83 per hour, about $37,080 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $16.56 and $19.26. That ranks 207th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 176th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in North Little Rock. The free report below lists employers near North Little Rock and what they pay.

Sterile Processing Technician pay in North Little Rock, AR

The metro median is in line with the Arkansas statewide median of $17.81 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 200 medical equipment preparers employed in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.19).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$16.49$34,30026% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$16.56$34,44026% below U.S. median
Median$17.83$37,08020% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$19.26$40,06014% below U.S. median
Top 10%$19.47$40,50013% below U.S. median

How North Little Rock ranks

  • 207th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 176th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 3 Arkansas metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical Equipment Preparers (SOC 31-9093), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in North Little Rock

  • Overall prices in Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 32% below the U.S. average (index 68.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $17.83 median hour buys what $19.95 buys at the national price level, 11% below the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

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Estimate your North Little Rock paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$642
  • Per year: $32,094
  • Per month: $2,674

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in North Little Rock

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

Travel sterile processing technician assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in North Little Rock

CMS lists 2 hospitals in North Little Rock, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Baptist Health Medical Center North Little Rock
North Little Rock, AR
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes
Bridgeway Hospital
North Little Rock, AR
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Sterile Processing Technician pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Little Rock, AR8 mi$17.83/hr204,774
Conway, AR24 mi$17.83/hr70,711
Jonesboro, AR113 mi$17.81/hr82,384
Fort Smith, AR127 mi$17.77/hr90,507
Southaven, MS129 mi$21.68/hr57,493
Memphis, TN130 mi$21.68/hr610,919

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Arkansas · Sterile Processing Technician jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Arkansas

CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Arkansas taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Arkansas state guide

Other healthcare roles in North Little Rock

North Little Rock city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do sterile processing technicians make in North Little Rock, AR?

Sterile Processing Technicians in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metro area have a median pay of $17.83 per hour, about $37,080 a year. The middle half earn between $16.56 and $19.26 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is North Little Rock a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway ranks 176th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 207th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.

Where do sterile processing technicians work in North Little Rock?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in North Little Rock, led by Baptist Health Medical Center North Little Rock. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Arkansas license to work in North Little Rock as a sterile processing technician?

CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in North Little Rock?

The federal per diem benchmark in North Little Rock is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place sterile processing technicians in North Little Rock?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in North Little Rock and across Arkansas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near North Little Rock.

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What do employers near North Little Rock pay sterile processing technicians? Get the report.

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Pay report · SPD Tech near North Little Rock, AR
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your SPD Tech pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Arkansas list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 3 postings$43.97/ hr$38–$50
  • CommonSpirit HealthDurango, CO · 5 postings$30.79/ hr$20–$37
  • Allina HealthMinnesota · 10 postings$29.02/ hr$22–$34
  • Mass General BrighamBoston, MA · 13 postings$28.35/ hr$21–$33

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Arkansas list

2What they are offering now

Low$18Median$26.27High$34

128 SPD Tech postings with published pay in the US, 117 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open SPD Tech roles

Open SPD Tech roles near North Little Rock, AR, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.

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