FL · Tampa · Updated October 15, 2026

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Tampa, FL

Sterile Processing Technicians in the Tampa area earn a median of $21.95 per hour, about $45,650 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.48 and $23.16. That ranks 86th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 111th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Tampa. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Tampa.

Sterile Processing Technician pay in Tampa, FL

The metro median is 4% above the Florida statewide median of $21.19 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 780 medical equipment preparers employed in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.14).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$16.99$35,34024% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.48$38,44017% below U.S. median
Median$21.95$45,6502% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$23.16$48,1704% above U.S. median
Top 10%$29.14$60,61030% above U.S. median

How Tampa ranks

  • 86th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 111th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th of 12 Florida 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 Tampa

  • Overall prices in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater run 1% above the U.S. average (index 100.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 26% above the U.S. average (index 125.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $21.95 median hour buys what $21.76 buys at the national price level, 3% below 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 Tampa paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$790
  • Per year: $39,510
  • Per month: $3,292
  • Florida has no state income tax on wages.

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

Travel assignment per diem in Tampa

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$161
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,687
13-week assignment$21,931

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).

Hospitals in Tampa

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Hca Florida South Tampa Hospital
Tampa, FL
Acute careFor-profit5 of 5Yes
St Josephs Hospital
Tampa, FL
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Tampa Va Medical Center
Tampa, FL
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Adventhealth Tampa
Tampa, FL
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Adventhealth Carrollwood
Tampa, FL
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Tampa General Hospital
Tampa, FL
Acute careNonprofit3 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
Pinellas Park, FL16 mi$21.95/hr53,503
St. Petersburg, FL17 mi$21.95/hr267,102
Lakeland, FL33 mi$18.73/hr124,990
Bradenton, FL34 mi$23.60/hr58,184
Sarasota, FL44 mi$23.60/hr57,764
Winter Haven, FL46 mi$18.73/hr59,975

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Florida · Sterile Processing Technician jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Florida

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

Florida does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.

Florida state guide

Other healthcare roles in Tampa

Tampa city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do sterile processing technicians make in Tampa, FL?

Sterile Processing Technicians in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area have a median pay of $21.95 per hour, about $45,650 a year. The middle half earn between $18.48 and $23.16 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ranks 111th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 86th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% above the U.S. average.

Where do sterile processing technicians work in Tampa?

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Tampa, led by Hca Florida South Tampa Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Florida license to work in Tampa as a sterile processing technician?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Tampa is $161 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,687 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 Tampa?

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

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

Your SPD Tech pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Florida list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 3 postings$43.97/ hr$38–$50
  • CommonSpirit HealthDurango, CO · 5 postings$30.79/ hr$20–$37
  • Allina HealthMinnesota · 10 postings$29.02/ hr$22–$34
  • Mass General BrighamBoston, MA · 13 postings$28.35/ hr$21–$33

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Florida list

2What they are offering now

Low$18Median$26.27High$34

128 SPD Tech postings with published pay in the US, 117 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open SPD Tech roles

Open SPD Tech roles near Tampa, FL, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.

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