CA · Sacramento · Updated October 15, 2026

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Sacramento, CA

Pay for sterile processing technicians in the Sacramento area centers on $36.81 per hour, or about $76,570 a year. The lower quarter earns under $28.02 and the upper quarter over $39.52. That ranks 6th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 4th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 10 hospitals in Sacramento. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Sacramento.

Sterile Processing Technician pay in Sacramento, CA

The metro median is 22% above the California statewide median of $30.15 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 720 medical equipment preparers employed in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.43).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$19.09$39,71015% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$28.02$58,28025% above U.S. median
Median$36.81$76,57065% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$39.52$82,20077% above U.S. median
Top 10%$39.76$82,70078% above U.S. median

How Sacramento ranks

  • 6th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 4th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
  • 6th 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 Sacramento

  • Overall prices in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom run 7% above the U.S. average (index 106.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 30% above the U.S. average (index 130.2).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $36.81 median hour buys what $34.51 buys at the national price level, 54% 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 Sacramento paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,325
  • Per year: $66,258
  • Per month: $5,522

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

Travel assignment per diem in Sacramento

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$150
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,652
13-week assignment$21,476

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 Sacramento as they open.

All Sterile Processing Technician jobs in California

Hospitals in Sacramento

CMS lists 10 hospitals in Sacramento, 3 of the 6 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
University Of California Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Mercy General Hospital
Sacramento, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Methodist Hospital Of Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hosp So Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Shriners Hospitals For Children Northern Calif
Sacramento, CA
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedNo
Bhc Sierra Vista Hospital, Inc
Sacramento, CA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Heritage Oaks Hospital
Sacramento, CA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedYes
Sutter Center For Psychiatry
Sacramento, CA
PsychiatricNonprofitNot 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
West Sacramento, CA4 mi$36.81/hr55,991
Elk Grove, CA11 mi$36.81/hr182,797
Vacaville, CA31 mi$39.46/hr103,994
Lodi, CA32 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 Sacramento

Sacramento city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

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

Sterile Processing Technicians in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro area have a median pay of $36.81 per hour, about $76,570 a year. The middle half earn between $28.02 and $39.52 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom ranks 4th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 6th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% above the U.S. average.

Where do sterile processing technicians work in Sacramento?

CMS lists 10 hospitals in Sacramento, led by Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Sacramento. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Sacramento is $150 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,652 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 Sacramento?

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

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

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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

Your SPD Tech pay reportSacramento, 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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