Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Kingsport, TN
Pay for sterile processing technicians in the Kingsport area centers on $16.93 per hour, or about $35,220 a year. The lower quarter earns under $15.13 and the upper quarter over $22.45. That ranks 223rd of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 186th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Kingsport. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Kingsport.
- $16.93median pay per hour, Kingsport
- $15–$22typical range per hour
- 80employed in the metro area
- 86cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Sterile Processing Technician pay in Kingsport, TN
The metro median is 20% below the Tennessee statewide median of $21.17 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 80 medical equipment preparers employed in the Kingsport-Bristol metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.49).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $15.00 | $31,200 | 33% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $15.13 | $31,470 | 32% below U.S. median |
| Median | $16.93 | $35,220 | 24% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.45 | $46,700 | in line with U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $28.12 | $58,490 | 26% above U.S. median |
How Kingsport ranks
- 223rd of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 186th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
- 7th 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 Kingsport
- Overall prices in Kingsport-Bristol run 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.4, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 44% below the U.S. average (index 56.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $16.93 median hour buys what $19.58 buys at the national price level, 12% 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 Kingsport Sterile Processing Technician pay report
Named employers near Kingsport, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Kingsport paycheck
- Per year: $30,474
- Per month: $2,540
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Kingsport-Bristol metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Kingsport
| 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 Kingsport
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Kingsport, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center Kingsport, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Indian Path Community Hospital Kingsport, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Creekside Behavioral Health Kingsport, TN | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City, TN | 15 mi | $18.15/hr | 73,635 |
| Asheville, NC | 66 mi | $20.96/hr | 94,992 |
| Knoxville, TN | 87 mi | $18.25/hr | 198,722 |
| Mooresville, NC | 116 mi | $21.23/hr | 52,884 |
| Gastonia, NC | 116 mi | $21.23/hr | 85,535 |
| Greenville, SC | 117 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 Kingsport
Kingsport city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do sterile processing technicians make in Kingsport, TN?
Sterile Processing Technicians in the Kingsport-Bristol metro area have a median pay of $16.93 per hour, about $35,220 a year. The middle half earn between $15.13 and $22.45 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Kingsport a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?
Kingsport-Bristol ranks 186th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 223rd of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.
Where do sterile processing technicians work in Kingsport?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Kingsport, led by Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Kingsport 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 Kingsport?
The federal per diem benchmark in Kingsport 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 Kingsport?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Kingsport and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Kingsport.
What do employers near Kingsport 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 Kingsport, TN, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.