Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Winter Haven, FL
The median sterile processing technician pay in the Winter Haven area is $18.73 per hour ($38,960 a year), with the typical range running from $16.09 to $21.32. That ranks 174th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 198th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Winter Haven. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Winter Haven.
- $18.73median pay per hour, Lakeland
- $16–$21typical range per hour
- 90employed in the metro area
- 97cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Sterile Processing Technician pay in Winter Haven, FL
The metro median is 12% below the Florida statewide median of $21.19 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 90 medical equipment preparers employed in the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.76).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $15.13 | $31,470 | 32% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $16.09 | $33,470 | 28% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.73 | $38,960 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $21.32 | $44,350 | 5% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $22.75 | $47,320 | 2% above U.S. median |
How Winter Haven ranks
- 174th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 198th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
- 9th 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 Winter Haven
- Overall prices in Lakeland-Winter Haven run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 4% below the U.S. average (index 95.9).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.73 median hour buys what $19.28 buys at the national price level, 14% 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.
Get the Winter Haven Sterile Processing Technician pay report
Named employers near Winter Haven, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Winter Haven paycheck
- Per year: $33,714
- Per month: $2,810
- Florida has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Winter Haven
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Winter Haven
CMS lists 1 hospital in Winter Haven, 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Haven Hospital Winter Haven, FL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland, FL | 14 mi | $18.73/hr | 124,990 |
| Kissimmee, FL | 26 mi | $19.09/hr | 84,756 |
| St. Cloud, FL | 30 mi | $19.09/hr | 71,036 |
| Clermont, FL | 33 mi | $19.09/hr | 50,851 |
| Orlando, FL | 38 mi | $19.09/hr | 334,854 |
| Ocoee, FL | 39 mi | $19.09/hr | 51,269 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Winter Haven
Winter Haven city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do sterile processing technicians make in Winter Haven, FL?
Sterile Processing Technicians in the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area have a median pay of $18.73 per hour, about $38,960 a year. The middle half earn between $16.09 and $21.32 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Winter Haven a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?
Lakeland-Winter Haven ranks 198th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 174th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.
Where do sterile processing technicians work in Winter Haven?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Winter Haven, led by Winter Haven Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Florida license to work in Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven?
The federal per diem benchmark in Winter Haven is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 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 Winter Haven?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Winter Haven and across Florida. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Winter Haven.
What do employers near Winter Haven 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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170+ Sterile Processing Technician roles in Florida, sent free by email
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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
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 Winter Haven, FL, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.