PermanentPosted today
Sterile Processing Tech II, Sterile Processing, Full-Time, Evenings (11am-7:30pm)
MarinHealth · Greenbrae, CA
$36.12–$42.34/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
Sterile Processing Technicians in the Santa Cruz area earn a median of $38.37 per hour, about $79,820 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $26.24 and $38.46. That ranks 3rd of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 3rd of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Santa Cruz.
- $38.37median pay per hour, Santa Cruz
- $26–$38typical range per hour
- 50employed in the metro area
- 110cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Sterile Processing Technician pay in Santa Cruz, CA
The metro median is 27% above the California statewide median of $30.15 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 50 medical equipment preparers employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.05).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.27 | $38,000 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $26.24 | $54,580 | 17% above U.S. median |
| Median | $38.37 | $79,820 | 72% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $38.46 | $80,000 | 72% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $45.21 | $94,040 | 102% above U.S. median |
How Santa Cruz ranks
- 3rd of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 3rd of 222 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd 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 Santa Cruz
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $38.37 median hour buys what $34.91 buys at the national price level, 56% 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.
Get the Santa Cruz Sterile Processing Technician pay report
Named employers near Santa Cruz, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Santa Cruz paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,381
- Per year: $69,066
- Per month: $5,756
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Cruz
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $148 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,638 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,294 |
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 Santa Cruz as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Sterile Processing Tech I (Full-Time, PMs)
Enloe Medical Center · Chico, CA
$22.46–$28.75/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
230+ more Sterile Processing Technician roles for you in California
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted yesterday
Sterile Processing Tech I (Full-Time, Nights)
Enloe Medical Center · Chico, CA
$22.46–$28.75/ hour
New this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Sterile Processing Tech I - Sharp Memorial Hospital - Night Shift - Per Diem- Weekends Only
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$29.67–$37.10/ hour
New this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Sterile Processing Tech II - Sterile Processing - Sharp Tri-City - Variable Shift - Per Diem
Sharp HealthCare · California
$28.29–$28.29/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Sterile Processing Tech II - Sterile Processing - Sharp Tri-City - Evening Shift - Full Time
Sharp HealthCare · California
$25.00–$28.29/ hour
New this week
Hospitals in Santa Cruz
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Santa Cruz County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Cruz, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Sterile Processing Technician pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 15 mi | $38.37/hr | 51,320 |
| Cupertino, CA | 24 mi | $37.75/hr | 58,710 |
| Gilroy, CA | 25 mi | $37.75/hr | 60,390 |
| San Jose, CA | 25 mi | $37.75/hr | 997,368 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 27 mi | $37.75/hr | 133,132 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 28 mi | $37.75/hr | 156,792 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do sterile processing technicians make in Santa Cruz, CA?
Sterile Processing Technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area have a median pay of $38.37 per hour, about $79,820 a year. The middle half earn between $26.24 and $38.46 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Cruz a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks 3rd of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 3rd of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Where do sterile processing technicians work in Santa Cruz?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, led by Dominican Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Cruz is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 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 Santa Cruz?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Cruz and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Cruz.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Santa Cruz pay sterile processing technicians? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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230+ Sterile Processing Technician roles in California, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your SPD Tech pay reportSanta Cruz, 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
- Sterile Processing Tech II, Sterile Processing, Full-Time, Evenings (11am-7:30pm)Permanent$36.12–$42.34/ hour
- Sterile Processing Tech I (Full-Time, PMs)Permanent$22.46–$28.75/ hour
+ 18 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.