WI · Madison · Updated October 15, 2026

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Madison, WI

The median sterile processing technician pay in the Madison area is $25.64 per hour ($53,320 a year), with the typical range running from $22.60 to $25.64. That ranks 24th of 233 U.S. metro areas for sterile processing technician pay, and 16th of 222 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Madison. The free report below lists employers near Madison and what they pay.

More open Sterile Processing Technician roles in Madison

2 more open roles from employers in Madison. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Sterile Processing Technician pay in Madison, WI

The metro median is 15% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $22.20 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.35 per hour. BLS counts about 220 medical equipment preparers employed in the Madison metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.16).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$18.77$39,04016% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$22.60$47,0101% above U.S. median
Median$25.64$53,32015% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$25.64$53,33015% above U.S. median
Top 10%$32.02$66,60043% above U.S. median

How Madison ranks

  • 24th of 233 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 16th of 222 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 7 Wisconsin 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.

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Named employers near Madison, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Madison

  • Overall prices in Madison run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: in line with the U.S. average (index 99.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $25.64 median hour buys what $26.36 buys at the national price level, 18% above 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.

Estimate your Madison paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$923
  • Per year: $46,152
  • Per month: $3,846

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Madison metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Madison

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$124
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,428
13-week assignment$18,564

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).

Open Sterile Processing Technician roles in Wisconsin

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Madison as they open.

All Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Wisconsin

Hospitals in Madison

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Madison, 4 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of sterile processing technicians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Madison Va Medical Center
Madison, WI
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Unitypoint Health - Meriter
Madison, WI
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
University Of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority
Madison, WI
Acute careGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - Madison
Madison, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Mendota Mental Health Institute
Madison, WI
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Sterile Processing Technician pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Janesville, WI35 mi$22.20/hr66,428
Waukesha, WI60 mi$22.85/hr71,461
Rockford, IL60 mi$19.79/hr147,486
West Allis, WI71 mi$22.85/hr59,784
Milwaukee, WI74 mi$22.85/hr563,531
Dubuque, IA76 mi$19.08/hr58,987

Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Wisconsin · Sterile Processing Technician jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Wisconsin

CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Wisconsin taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Wisconsin state guide

Other healthcare roles in Madison

Madison city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do sterile processing technicians make in Madison, WI?

Sterile Processing Technicians in the Madison metro area have a median pay of $25.64 per hour, about $53,320 a year. The middle half earn between $22.60 and $25.64 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Madison a good place for sterile processing technicians once cost of living is counted?

Madison ranks 16th of 222 metro areas for sterile processing technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 24th of 233 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Where do sterile processing technicians work in Madison?

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Madison, led by Madison Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Madison as a sterile processing technician?

CRCST or CSPDT certification, or the ability to earn it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin 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 Madison?

The federal per diem benchmark in Madison is $124 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,428 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 Madison?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Madison and across Wisconsin. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Madison.

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What do employers near Madison pay sterile processing technicians? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

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Pay report · SPD Tech near Madison, WI
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your SPD Tech pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Wisconsin list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • MercyWisconsin · 3 postings$22.40/ hr$18–$33
  • 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

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Wisconsin list

2What they are offering now

Low$17Median$22.40High$31

4 SPD Tech postings with published pay in Wisconsin, 4 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 4 SPD Tech roles

  1. Education Coordinator, Sterile Processing - DaysPermanent
    $22.73–$32.96/ hour
    Mercy · Wisconsin · posted 2 days ago
  2. Sterile Processing Technician - Variable ShiftPermanent
    $18.28–$26.51/ hour
    Mercy · Wisconsin · posted 6 days ago

+ 2 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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