Sterile Processing Technician salary in California
Sterile Processing Technicians in California earn a median of $30.15 per hour, about $62,710 a year, 35% above the U.S. median of $22.35. The middle half earn between $23.73 and $37.44 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in Vallejo, CA, at $39.46 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $30.15median pay per hour
- $62,710median pay per year
- 8,630employed in California
- #1of 50 states by median pay
Sterile Processing Technician pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $19.48 | $40,520 | $17.02 |
| Lower quartile | $23.73 | $49,360 | $18.71 |
| Median | $30.15 | $62,710 | $22.35 |
| Upper quartile | $37.44 | $77,880 | $27.00 |
| Top 10% | $42.29 | $87,960 | $32.25 |
Sterile Processing Technician pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $39.46 | $82,070 | 190 | 31% above | $36.38 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $39.20 | $81,540 | 1,120 | 30% above | $33.91 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $38.37 | $79,820 | 50 | 27% above | $34.91 |
| Napa, CA | $37.86 | $78,760 | 40 | 26% above | $33.64 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $37.75 | $78,530 | 500 | 25% above | $34.19 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $36.81 | $76,570 | 720 | 22% above | $34.51 |
| Redding, CA | $35.58 | $74,000 | 50 | 18% above | $35.34 |
| Modesto, CA | $33.51 | $69,700 | 150 | 11% above | $32.19 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $31.41 | $65,340 | 620 | 4% above | $28.07 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $31.18 | $64,850 | 50 | 3% above | $28.71 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $29.53 | $61,410 | 230 | 2% below | $27.40 |
| Salinas, CA | $29.16 | $60,640 | 90 | 3% below | $26.74 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $28.80 | $59,910 | 120 | 4% below | $27.41 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $28.46 | $59,190 | 2,740 | 6% below | $25.06 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $27.97 | $58,180 | 830 | 7% below | $26.28 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $25.41 | $52,850 | 180 | 16% below | $25.19 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $25.11 | $52,220 | 60 | 17% below | $23.08 |
| Chico, CA | $24.66 | $51,300 | 90 | 18% below | $24.37 |
| Yuba City, CA | $24.35 | $50,650 | 30 | 19% below | $23.36 |
| Fresno, CA | $23.37 | $48,600 | 280 | 22% below | $22.88 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $22.51 | $46,820 | 160 | 25% below | $20.36 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Sterile Processing Technician pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 20roles with published pay
- $28.72median pay per hour
- $24–$38typical published range
- 9employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp HealthCare | 5 | $26.64 |
| Enloe Medical Center | 3 | $25.61 |
| Montage Health | 3 | $43.97 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 2 | $29.99 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 2 | $34.33 |
| Palomar Health | 2 | $28.27 |
| MarinHealth | 1 | $39.23 |
| Military Treatment Facilities under DHA | 1 | $28.68 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 20 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Sterile Processing Technician jobs in California · Sterile Processing Technician salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a sterile processing technician make in California?
The median is $30.15 per hour, about $62,710 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $19.48 and the top 10% earn over $42.29 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays sterile processing technicians the most?
Among California metro areas, Vallejo, CA has the highest median at $39.46 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for sterile processing technician pay?
California ranks 1st of 50 states by median sterile processing technician pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you pay sterile processing technicians? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
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The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
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Your SPD Tech pay reportCalifornia · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 3 postings$43.97/ hr$38–$50
- Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 2 postings$34.33/ hr$30–$39
- CommonSpirit HealthSANTA MARIA, CA · 2 postings$29.99/ hr$25–$34
- Palomar HealthEscondido, CA · 2 postings$28.27/ hr$23–$35
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
20 SPD Tech postings with published pay in California, 19 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 20 SPD Tech roles
- Sterile Processing Tech II, Sterile Processing, Full-Time, Evenings (11am-7:30pm)Permanent$36.12–$42.34/ hour
- Sterile Processing Tech I (Full-Time, PMs)Permanent$22.46–$28.75/ hour
+ 18 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.