Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Knoxville, TN
The median sterile processing technician pay in the Knoxville area is $18.25 per hour ($37,950 a year), with the typical range running from $16.08 to $22.75. That ranks 190th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 183rd of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Knoxville.
- $18.25median pay per hour, Knoxville
- $16–$23typical range per hour
- 160employed in the metro area
- 93cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Sterile Processing Technician pay in Knoxville, 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 160 medical equipment preparers employed in the Knoxville metro area, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.79).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $15.19 | $31,600 | 32% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $16.08 | $33,450 | 28% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.25 | $37,950 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.75 | $47,320 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $24.79 | $51,560 | 11% above U.S. median |
How Knoxville ranks
- 190th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 183rd of 222 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th 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 Knoxville
- Overall prices in Knoxville run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 17% below the U.S. average (index 82.8).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.25 median hour buys what $19.72 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 Knoxville Sterile Processing Technician pay report
Named employers near Knoxville, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Knoxville paycheck
- Per year: $32,850
- Per month: $2,738
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Knoxville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Knoxville
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $119 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,351 |
| 13-week assignment | $17,563 |
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 Knoxville
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville, 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Health System, Inc Knoxville, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Knoxville, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Parkwest Medical Center Knoxville, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| East Tennessee Childrens Hospital Knoxville, TN | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| East Tennessee Behavioral Health Knoxville, TN | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Knoxville Center For Behavioral Medicine Knoxville, TN | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | 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 | 75 mi | $21.17/hr | 50,232 |
| Asheville, NC | 83 mi | $20.96/hr | 94,992 |
| Kingsport, TN | 87 mi | $16.93/hr | 57,109 |
| Johnson City, TN | 91 mi | $18.15/hr | 73,635 |
| Chattanooga, TN | 96 mi | $18.32/hr | 191,496 |
| Greenville, SC | 119 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 Knoxville
Knoxville city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do sterile processing technicians make in Knoxville, TN?
Sterile Processing Technicians in the Knoxville metro area have a median pay of $18.25 per hour, about $37,950 a year. The middle half earn between $16.08 and $22.75 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Knoxville a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?
Knoxville ranks 183rd of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 190th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Where do sterile processing technicians work in Knoxville?
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville, led by University Health System, Inc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Knoxville 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 Knoxville?
The federal per diem benchmark in Knoxville is $119 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,351 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 Knoxville?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Knoxville and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Knoxville.
What do employers near Knoxville 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
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 Knoxville, TN, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.