CA · Petaluma · Updated October 15, 2026

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Petaluma, CA

Sterile Processing Technicians in the Petaluma area earn a median of $29.53 per hour, about $61,410 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $19.32 and $40.89. That ranks 11th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 12th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Petaluma. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Petaluma.

Sterile Processing Technician pay in Petaluma, CA

The metro median is 2% below the California statewide median of $30.15 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 230 medical equipment preparers employed in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 2.40).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$19.17$39,87014% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$19.32$40,19014% below U.S. median
Median$29.53$61,41032% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$40.89$85,05083% above U.S. median
Top 10%$47.74$99,300114% above U.S. median

How Petaluma ranks

  • 11th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 12th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
  • 11th 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 Petaluma

  • Overall prices in Santa Rosa-Petaluma run 8% above the U.S. average (index 107.8, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 40% above the U.S. average (index 139.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $29.53 median hour buys what $27.40 buys at the national price level, 23% 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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Estimate your Petaluma paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,063
  • Per year: $53,154
  • Per month: $4,430

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

Travel assignment per diem in Petaluma

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$157
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,701
13-week assignment$22,113

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. 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 Petaluma as they open.

All Sterile Processing Technician jobs in California

Hospitals in Petaluma

CMS lists 1 hospital in Petaluma, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Petaluma Valley Hospital
Petaluma, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5No

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
Novato, CA12 mi$39.20/hr52,311
Santa Rosa, CA15 mi$29.53/hr177,524
Napa, CA18 mi$37.86/hr76,921
San Rafael, CA19 mi$39.20/hr59,961
Vallejo, CA22 mi$39.46/hr123,475
Richmond, CA25 mi$39.20/hr115,353

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 Petaluma

Petaluma city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

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

Sterile Processing Technicians in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma metro area have a median pay of $29.53 per hour, about $61,410 a year. The middle half earn between $19.32 and $40.89 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Santa Rosa-Petaluma ranks 12th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 11th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% above the U.S. average.

Where do sterile processing technicians work in Petaluma?

CMS lists 1 hospital in Petaluma, led by Petaluma Valley Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Petaluma 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 Petaluma?

The federal per diem benchmark in Petaluma is $157 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,701 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 Petaluma?

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

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

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

Your SPD Tech pay reportPetaluma, 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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