CA · Union City · Updated October 15, 2026

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Union City, CA

The median sterile processing technician pay in the Union City area is $39.20 per hour ($81,540 a year), with the typical range running from $34.38 to $42.45. That ranks 2nd of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 6th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 42 hospitals in the Union City metro area. The free report below lists employers near Union City and what they pay.

Sterile Processing Technician pay in Union City, CA

The metro median is 30% above the California statewide median of $30.15 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 1,120 medical equipment preparers employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.99).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$26.01$54,10016% above U.S. median
Lower quartile$34.38$71,51054% above U.S. median
Median$39.20$81,54075% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$42.45$88,30090% above U.S. median
Top 10%$44.90$93,390101% above U.S. median

How Union City ranks

  • 2nd of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 6th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd 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 Union City

  • Overall prices in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont run 16% above the U.S. average (index 115.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 95% above the U.S. average (index 194.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $39.20 median hour buys what $33.91 buys at the national price level, 52% 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 Union City, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Union City paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,411
  • Per year: $70,560
  • Per month: $5,880

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

Travel assignment per diem in Union City

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$145
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,659
13-week assignment$21,567

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 Union City as they open.

All Sterile Processing Technician jobs in California

Hospitals in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area

CMS lists 42 hospitals in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area, 18 of the 33 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
Oakland, CA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Novato Community Hospital
Novato, CA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Sequoia Hospital
Redwood City, CA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley
Pleasanton, CA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Alameda Hospital
Alameda, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp
Berkeley, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
California Pacific Medical Center - Mission Bernal
San Francisco, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center
Martinez, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus
Concord, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital
San Rafael, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

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
Hayward, CA5 mi$39.20/hr158,440
Fremont, CA9 mi$39.20/hr228,192
Milpitas, CA14 mi$37.75/hr79,746
Mountain View, CA14 mi$37.75/hr87,316
Sunnyvale, CA15 mi$37.75/hr156,792
Palo Alto, CA16 mi$37.75/hr67,658

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 Union City

Union City city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do sterile processing technicians make in Union City, CA?

Sterile Processing Technicians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area have a median pay of $39.20 per hour, about $81,540 a year. The middle half earn between $34.38 and $42.45 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ranks 6th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 2nd of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 16% above the U.S. average.

Where do sterile processing technicians work in Union City?

CMS lists 42 hospitals in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area, led by Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Union City 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 Union City?

The federal per diem benchmark in Union City is $145 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,659 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 Union City?

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

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What do employers near Union City 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 Union City, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your SPD Tech pay reportUnion City, 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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