CA · Modesto · Updated October 15, 2026

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Modesto, CA

The median sterile processing technician pay in the Modesto area is $33.51 per hour ($69,700 a year), with the typical range running from $29.12 to $42.54. That ranks 8th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 8th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Modesto. The free report below lists employers near Modesto and what they pay.

Sterile Processing Technician pay in Modesto, CA

The metro median is 11% above the California statewide median of $30.15 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 150 medical equipment preparers employed in the Modesto metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.59).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$22.24$46,260in line with U.S. median
Lower quartile$29.12$60,57030% above U.S. median
Median$33.51$69,70050% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$42.54$88,48090% above U.S. median
Top 10%$42.54$88,48090% above U.S. median

How Modesto ranks

  • 8th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 8th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
  • 8th of 21 California 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 Modesto

  • Overall prices in Modesto run 4% above the U.S. average (index 104.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 8% above the U.S. average (index 108.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $33.51 median hour buys what $32.19 buys at the national price level, 44% above 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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Named employers near Modesto, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Modesto paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,206
  • Per year: $60,318
  • Per month: $5,026

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

Travel assignment per diem in Modesto

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).

Open Sterile Processing Technician roles in California

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Modesto as they open.

All Sterile Processing Technician jobs in California

Hospitals in Modesto

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Modesto, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Memorial Medical Center
Modesto, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Doctors Medical Center
Modesto, CA
Acute careFor-profit1 of 5Yes
Stanislaus Surgical Hospital
Modesto, CA
Acute careNonprofitNot 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
Turlock, CA12 mi$33.51/hr72,888
Manteca, CA16 mi$28.80/hr94,292
Tracy, CA25 mi$28.80/hr100,136
Stockton, CA29 mi$28.80/hr324,975
Merced, CA37 mi$30.15/hr96,073
Lodi, CA37 mi$28.80/hr68,642

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in California · Sterile Processing Technician jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

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

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

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Modesto

Modesto city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do sterile processing technicians make in Modesto, CA?

Sterile Processing Technicians in the Modesto metro area have a median pay of $33.51 per hour, about $69,700 a year. The middle half earn between $29.12 and $42.54 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Modesto a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?

Modesto ranks 8th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 8th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% above the U.S. average.

Where do sterile processing technicians work in Modesto?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Modesto, led by Memorial Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Modesto as a sterile processing technician?

CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California 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 Modesto?

The federal per diem benchmark in Modesto 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 Modesto?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Modesto and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Modesto.

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What do employers near Modesto pay sterile processing technicians? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · SPD Tech near Modesto, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your SPD Tech pay reportModesto, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 3 postings$43.97/ hr$38–$50
  • Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 2 postings$34.33/ hr$30–$39
  • CommonSpirit HealthSANTA MARIA, CA · 2 postings$29.99/ hr$25–$34
  • Palomar HealthEscondido, CA · 2 postings$28.27/ hr$23–$35

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$23Median$28.72High$39

20 SPD Tech postings with published pay in California, 19 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 20 SPD Tech roles

  1. Sterile Processing Tech II, Sterile Processing, Full-Time, Evenings (11am-7:30pm)Permanent
    $36.12–$42.34/ hour
    MarinHealth · Greenbrae, CA · posted today
  2. Sterile Processing Tech I (Full-Time, PMs)Permanent
    $22.46–$28.75/ hour
    Enloe Medical Center · Chico, CA · posted today

+ 18 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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