Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Waterloo, IA
Sterile Processing Technicians in the Waterloo area earn a median of $18.44 per hour, about $38,360 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $17.03 and $18.94. That ranks 184th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 135th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Waterloo. The free report below lists employers near Waterloo and what they pay.
- $18.44median pay per hour, Waterloo
- $17–$19typical range per hour
- 50employed in the metro area
- 87cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Sterile Processing Technician pay in Waterloo, IA
The metro median is 3% below the Iowa statewide median of $19.08 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 50 medical equipment preparers employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.25).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.03 | $35,420 | 24% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $17.03 | $35,420 | 24% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.44 | $38,360 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $18.94 | $39,400 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $22.13 | $46,030 | 1% below U.S. median |
How Waterloo ranks
- 184th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 135th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 6 Iowa 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 Waterloo
- Overall prices in Waterloo-Cedar Falls run 13% below the U.S. average (index 87.1, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 37% below the U.S. average (index 63.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.44 median hour buys what $21.18 buys at the national price level, 5% 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 Waterloo Sterile Processing Technician pay report
Named employers near Waterloo, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Waterloo paycheck
- Per year: $33,192
- Per month: $2,766
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Waterloo
| 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 Waterloo
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Waterloo, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo, IA | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 50 mi | $19.34/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | $18.30/hr | 76,710 |
| Ames, IA | 72 mi | $19.08/hr | 69,026 |
| Ankeny, IA | 83 mi | $19.46/hr | 76,727 |
| Dubuque, IA | 84 mi | $19.08/hr | 58,987 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91 mi | $19.46/hr | 213,096 |
Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Iowa · Sterile Processing Technician jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Iowa taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Waterloo
Waterloo city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do sterile processing technicians make in Waterloo, IA?
Sterile Processing Technicians in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area have a median pay of $18.44 per hour, about $38,360 a year. The middle half earn between $17.03 and $18.94 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Waterloo a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls ranks 135th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 184th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 13% below the U.S. average.
Where do sterile processing technicians work in Waterloo?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Waterloo, led by Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Waterloo as a sterile processing technician?
CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa 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 Waterloo?
The federal per diem benchmark in Waterloo 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 Waterloo?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Waterloo and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Waterloo.
What do employers near Waterloo 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.
Get your free pay report
20+ Sterile Processing Technician roles in Iowa, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your SPD Tech pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Waterloo, IA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.