Sterile Processing Technician jobs in New Orleans, LA
Sterile Processing Technicians in the New Orleans area earn a median of $18.68 per hour, about $38,850 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $14.24 and $22.60. That ranks 176th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 172nd of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 10 hospitals in New Orleans. The free report below lists employers near New Orleans and what they pay.
- $18.68median pay per hour, New Orleans
- $14–$23typical range per hour
- 180employed in the metro area
- 93cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Sterile Processing Technician pay in New Orleans, LA
The metro median is 7% above the Louisiana statewide median of $17.46 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 180 medical equipment preparers employed in the New Orleans-Metairie metro area, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.86).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $13.85 | $28,810 | 38% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $14.24 | $29,620 | 36% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.68 | $38,850 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.60 | $47,010 | 1% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $25.06 | $52,120 | 12% above U.S. median |
How New Orleans ranks
- 176th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 172nd of 222 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 6 Louisiana 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 New Orleans
- Overall prices in New Orleans-Metairie run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.68 median hour buys what $20.17 buys at the national price level, 10% 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 New Orleans Sterile Processing Technician pay report
Named employers near New Orleans, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your New Orleans paycheck
- Per year: $33,624
- Per month: $2,802
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the New Orleans-Metairie metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in New Orleans
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $158 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,666 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,658 |
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 New Orleans
CMS lists 10 hospitals in New Orleans, 1 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ochsner Medical Center Acute New Orleans, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System New Orleans, LA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Touro Infirmary New Orleans, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| University Medical Center New Orleans New Orleans, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Childrens Hospital New Orleans, LA | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| New Orleans East Hospital New Orleans, LA | Acute care | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
| St Charles Surgical Hospital New Orleans, LA | Acute care | Other | Not rated | No |
| Beacon Behavioral Hospital- New Orleans, Llc New Orleans, LA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Community Care Hospital New Orleans, LA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| River Oaks Hospital New Orleans, LA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenner, LA | 19 mi | $18.68/hr | 64,650 |
| Gulfport, MS | 58 mi | $16.78/hr | 74,621 |
| Mobile, AL | 117 mi | $15.99/hr | 201,367 |
| Jackson, MS | 157 mi | $16.66/hr | 141,449 |
| Pensacola, FL | 166 mi | $22.58/hr | 53,898 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 196 mi | $9.50/hr | 81,157 |
Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Louisiana · Sterile Processing Technician jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Louisiana
CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Louisiana requires for your role with the Louisiana licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Louisiana taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in New Orleans
New Orleans city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do sterile processing technicians make in New Orleans, LA?
Sterile Processing Technicians in the New Orleans-Metairie metro area have a median pay of $18.68 per hour, about $38,850 a year. The middle half earn between $14.24 and $22.60 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is New Orleans a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?
New Orleans-Metairie ranks 172nd of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 176th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Where do sterile processing technicians work in New Orleans?
CMS lists 10 hospitals in New Orleans, led by Ochsner Medical Center Acute. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Louisiana license to work in New Orleans as a sterile processing technician?
CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Louisiana requires for your role with the Louisiana 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 New Orleans?
The federal per diem benchmark in New Orleans is $158 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,666 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 New Orleans?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in New Orleans and across Louisiana. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near New Orleans.
What do employers near New Orleans 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
50+ Sterile Processing Technician roles in Louisiana, 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 New Orleans, LA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.