IL · Elgin · Updated October 15, 2026

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Elgin, IL

The median sterile processing technician pay in the Elgin area is $22.94 per hour ($47,710 a year), with the typical range running from $21.88 to $27.74. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Elgin. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Elgin. The free report below lists employers near Elgin and what they pay.

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Sterile Processing Technician pay in Elgin, IL

The metro median is 1% above the Illinois statewide median of $22.64 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 2,120 medical equipment preparers employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.00).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$18.62$38,73017% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$21.88$45,5102% below U.S. median
Median$22.94$47,7103% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$27.74$57,70024% above U.S. median
Top 10%$36.17$75,23062% above U.S. median

How Elgin ranks

  • 50th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 95th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 6 Illinois 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 Elgin

  • Overall prices in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin run 4% above the U.S. average (index 103.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 12% above the U.S. average (index 112.0).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $22.94 median hour buys what $22.14 buys at the national price level, 1% 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.

Estimate your Elgin paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$826
  • Per year: $41,292
  • Per month: $3,441

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Elgin

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$195
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$2,009
13-week assignment$26,117

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 Elgin

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Elgin, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Elgin, IL
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Saint Joseph Hospital-Elgin
Elgin, IL
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Elgin Mental Health Center
Elgin, IL
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedYes

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
Hoffman Estates, IL9 mi$22.94/hr50,920
Schaumburg, IL12 mi$22.94/hr77,099

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Illinois · Sterile Processing Technician jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Illinois

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

Illinois taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Illinois state guide

Other healthcare roles in Elgin

Elgin city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do sterile processing technicians make in Elgin, IL?

Sterile Processing Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area have a median pay of $22.94 per hour, about $47,710 a year. The middle half earn between $21.88 and $27.74 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin ranks 95th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 50th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring sterile processing technicians in Elgin?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Elgin. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Elgin.

Do I need a Illinois license to work in Elgin as a sterile processing technician?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Elgin is $195 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,009 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 Elgin?

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

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

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

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • The Oak Brook Surgical Centre, IncOak Brook, IL · 1 wage offer$23.70/ hr$24–$24
  • Central Maine Healthcare CorporationEvanston, IL · 3 postings$19.70/ hr$16–$27
  • Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 3 postings$43.97/ hr$38–$50
  • CommonSpirit HealthDurango, CO · 5 postings$30.79/ hr$20–$37

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Illinois list

2What they are offering now

Low$16Median$22.63High$28

6 SPD Tech postings with published pay in Illinois, 6 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 6 SPD Tech roles

  1. Sterile Processing TechnicianPermanent
    $16.06–$23.26/ hour
    Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Evanston, IL · posted today
  2. Sterile Processing Technician - Webster Surgery CenterPermanent
    $20.80–$31.20/ hour
    Advocate Health · Chicago, IL · posted yesterday

+ 4 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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