The short answer
The BLS projects employment of medical equipment preparers (SOC 31-9093, the occupation that covers sterile processing technicians) to grow 10.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 79,900 to 88,600 jobs. That's about 3 times the 3.5% projected for all occupations. You can start with a high school diploma, and the national median wage is $22.93 an hour. Sources: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, Table 1.2 Occupational projections and worker characteristics, BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile)
The trade-offs: seven states require certification, usually within 18 months to 3 years of being hired, and 31 of 465 live listings on SterileShift put "certified" in the job title. Pay is also below some related jobs: surgical technologists, which BLS lists as needing a postsecondary nondegree award, have a median of $64,650 a year. Sources: HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map), BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, Table 1.2 Occupational projections and worker characteristics
Job outlook to 2035
| Occupation (BLS) | Jobs, 2025 | Jobs, 2035 | Growth | Openings / year | Median wage, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical equipment preparers (sterile processing) | 79,900 | 88,600 | +10.8% | 10,700 | $47,700 |
| Medical assistants | 833,900 | 941,500 | +12.9% | 109,700 | $45,690 |
| Surgical technologists | 118,400 | 124,300 | +5.0% | 7,100 | $64,650 |
| All healthcare support occupations | 8,421,500 | 9,544,200 | +13.3% | 1,262,800 | $38,340 |
| All occupations | 170,280,800 | 176,198,500 | +3.5% | 17,461,800 | $50,980 |
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (Table 1.2). Openings are an annual average and include new jobs plus openings left by workers who retire or move to another occupation; they don't count people changing employers within the same job. Sources: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, Table 1.2 Occupational projections and worker characteristics, BLS: How occupational openings are projected (separations methodology)
Most of those openings come from people leaving the job, not from growth: about 8,700 jobs are added over the whole decade, while about 10,700 openings come up every year. For someone trying to get in, that steady churn matters more than the growth rate.
What it pays
| Hourly pay | BLS, May 2025 | Live listings, Oct 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.50 | – |
| Median | $22.93 | $26.96 (105 staff tech listings) |
| 90th percentile | $33.63 | – |
| Lead / supervisor (posted) | not published separately | $38.06 (6 listings) |
| Travel contracts (posted, weekly) | – | $1,242/wk (152 listings) |
Pay varies a lot by state: from $16.90 (Mississippi) to $29.50 (California) at the median. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile)
Pay by place: all states · California · Texas · Florida · New York · Massachusetts · Pennsylvania · New York City · Los Angeles · Houston · Dallas–Fort Worth.
What it takes to get in
- Education: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education, with no work experience in a related occupation required. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, Table 1.2 Occupational projections and worker characteristics
- Training: BLS classes it as moderate-term on-the-job training, which it defines as more than 1 month and up to 12 months. Source: BLS: Education and training categories (definitions)
- Certification: the HSPA CRCST (400 hands-on hours, $140 exam) or the CBSPD CSPDT ($135). Seven states require it; see certification by state. Sources: HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026), HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map)
16 live listings look entry-level · Step-by-step: how to become an SPD tech
Where it can lead
Right now SterileShift has 34 lead / supervisor, 10 manager and 6 educator listings in sterile processing (Oct 21, 2026). The lead listings that post pay have a median of $38.06 an hour (6 listings), against $26.96 for staff techs. HSPA's Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) credential is aimed at that step up and requires a full CRCST first. Source: HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026)
Travel contracts are another route once you have experience: 197 live travel openings, median $1,242 a week. See travel SPD pay and lead & supervisor pay.
Frequently asked questions
Is sterile processing a growing field?
Yes, by the BLS's projection: employment of medical equipment preparers (SOC 31-9093) is projected to grow 10.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 79,900 to 88,600 jobs, compared with 3.5% for all occupations. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, Table 1.2 Occupational projections and worker characteristics.
How many sterile processing jobs open each year?
BLS projects about 10,700 openings a year on average over 2025–35 for medical equipment preparers. That figure counts new jobs plus openings from workers who retire or move to other occupations. Sources: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, Table 1.2 Occupational projections and worker characteristics, BLS: How occupational openings are projected (separations methodology).
Do you need a degree for sterile processing?
No. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training (more than 1 month and up to 12 months). Certification (CRCST or CSPDT) is a separate requirement many employers and seven states set. Sources: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, Table 1.2 Occupational projections and worker characteristics, BLS: Education and training categories (definitions), HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map).
How much do sterile processing techs make?
The BLS national median was $22.93 an hour ($47,700 a year) in May 2025, with the 90th percentile at $33.63. Live staff technician listings on SterileShift show a median of $26.96 an hour across 105 listings (Oct 21, 2026). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile).
Sources
- BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, Table 1.2 Occupational projections and worker characteristics
- BLS: Education and training categories (definitions)
- BLS: How occupational openings are projected (separations methodology)
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile)
- HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026)
- HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map)
- SterileShift job data: 585 live sterile processing openings collected from public hospital and staffing-agency career sites, Oct 21, 2026. How we collect it.
SterileShift is not affiliated with HSPA, CBSPD or the BLS. Rules, fees and dates change: confirm on the official sites before you apply or pay for anything.