Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Chattanooga, TN
Sterile Processing Technicians in the Chattanooga area earn a median of $18.32 per hour, about $38,110 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $15.66 and $22.41. That ranks 187th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 173rd of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Chattanooga. The free report below lists employers near Chattanooga and what they pay.
- $18.32median pay per hour, Chattanooga
- $16–$22typical range per hour
- 170employed in the metro area
- 91cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Sterile Processing Technician pay in Chattanooga, TN
The metro median is 13% below the Tennessee statewide median of $21.17 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 170 medical equipment preparers employed in the Chattanooga metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.38).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $15.00 | $31,200 | 33% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $15.66 | $32,570 | 30% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.32 | $38,110 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.41 | $46,610 | in line with U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $25.88 | $53,830 | 16% above U.S. median |
How Chattanooga ranks
- 187th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 173rd of 222 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd of 7 Tennessee 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 Chattanooga
- Overall prices in Chattanooga run 9% below the U.S. average (index 91.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 23% below the U.S. average (index 76.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.32 median hour buys what $20.03 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 Chattanooga Sterile Processing Technician pay report
Named employers near Chattanooga, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Chattanooga paycheck
- Per year: $32,976
- Per month: $2,748
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Chattanooga metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Chattanooga
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $117 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,337 |
| 13-week assignment | $17,381 |
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 Chattanooga
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Chattanooga, 3 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Healthcare System, Inc Chattanooga, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | No |
| Erlanger Medical Center Chattanooga, TN | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Parkridge Medical Center Chattanooga, TN | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Erlanger Behavioral Hospital, Llc Chattanooga, TN | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute Chattanooga, TN | Psychiatric | Government and federal | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, TN | 23 mi | $21.17/hr | 50,232 |
| Huntsville, AL | 85 mi | $16.48/hr | 230,402 |
| Murfreesboro, TN | 86 mi | $23.61/hr | 168,387 |
| Marietta, GA | 87 mi | $23.94/hr | 63,122 |
| Roswell, GA | 87 mi | $23.94/hr | 92,227 |
| Alpharetta, GA | 88 mi | $23.94/hr | 67,275 |
Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Tennessee · Sterile Processing Technician jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Tennessee
CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Tennessee 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 Chattanooga
Chattanooga city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do sterile processing technicians make in Chattanooga, TN?
Sterile Processing Technicians in the Chattanooga metro area have a median pay of $18.32 per hour, about $38,110 a year. The middle half earn between $15.66 and $22.41 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Chattanooga a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?
Chattanooga ranks 173rd of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 187th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% below the U.S. average.
Where do sterile processing technicians work in Chattanooga?
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Chattanooga, led by Memorial Healthcare System, Inc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Chattanooga as a sterile processing technician?
CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee 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 Chattanooga?
The federal per diem benchmark in Chattanooga is $117 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,337 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 Chattanooga?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chattanooga and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chattanooga.
What do employers near Chattanooga 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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70+ Sterile Processing Technician roles in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Chattanooga, TN, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.