Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Johnson City, TN
The median sterile processing technician pay in the Johnson City area is $18.15 per hour ($37,760 a year), with the typical range running from $15.88 to $22.23. That ranks 194th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 160th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Johnson City. The free report below lists employers near Johnson City and what they pay.
- $18.15median pay per hour, Johnson City
- $16–$22typical range per hour
- 60employed in the metro area
- 88cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Sterile Processing Technician pay in Johnson City, TN
The metro median is 14% below the Tennessee statewide median of $21.17 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 60 medical equipment preparers employed in the Johnson City metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.57).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $12.00 | $24,960 | 46% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $15.88 | $33,030 | 29% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.15 | $37,760 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.23 | $46,240 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $27.28 | $56,740 | 22% above U.S. median |
How Johnson City ranks
- 194th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 160th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th 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 Johnson City
- Overall prices in Johnson City run 12% below the U.S. average (index 87.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 37% below the U.S. average (index 63.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.15 median hour buys what $20.64 buys at the national price level, 8% 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 Johnson City Sterile Processing Technician pay report
Named employers near Johnson City, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Johnson City paycheck
- Per year: $32,670
- Per month: $2,722
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Johnson City metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Johnson City
| 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 Johnson City
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Johnson City, 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Woods Community Hospital Johnson City, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Johnson City Medical Center Johnson City, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport, TN | 15 mi | $16.93/hr | 57,109 |
| Asheville, NC | 54 mi | $20.96/hr | 94,992 |
| Knoxville, TN | 91 mi | $18.25/hr | 198,722 |
| Gastonia, NC | 101 mi | $21.23/hr | 85,535 |
| Mooresville, NC | 101 mi | $21.23/hr | 52,884 |
| Greenville, SC | 104 mi | $22.22/hr | 74,371 |
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 Johnson City
Johnson City city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do sterile processing technicians make in Johnson City, TN?
Sterile Processing Technicians in the Johnson City metro area have a median pay of $18.15 per hour, about $37,760 a year. The middle half earn between $15.88 and $22.23 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Johnson City a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?
Johnson City ranks 160th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 194th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% below the U.S. average.
Where do sterile processing technicians work in Johnson City?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Johnson City, led by Franklin Woods Community Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Johnson City 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 Johnson City?
The federal per diem benchmark in Johnson City 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 Johnson City?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Johnson City and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Johnson City.
What do employers near Johnson City 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 Johnson City, TN, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.