California pay at a glance
| Hourly pay | BLS, California | BLS, U.S. | Live staff listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21.00 | $17.50 | – |
| 25th percentile | $23.87 | $19.13 | $37.91 |
| Median | $29.50 | $22.93 | $39.95 |
| 75th percentile | $37.34 | $28.16 | $40.39 |
| 90th percentile | $40.98 | $33.63 | – |
| Mean | $31.30 | $24.28 | – |
| Sample | 8,720 employed | 77,420 employed | 12 listings with hourly pay |
The BLS median in California is $29.50 an hour, 29% above the national median of $22.93. That ranks California 1 of 51 (the 50 states and DC) by median pay. BLS's annual median is $61,370. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile)
Live staff technician listings in California have a median of $39.95 an hour across 12 listings that publish hourly pay, ranging from $27.32 to $46.20 (midpoints).
Travel contracts here quote a median of $1,451 a week (23 listings), which can include tax-free stipends. See travel SPD pay.
Pay by metro area in California
| Metro area (BLS) | Median hourly | vs California | Employed | Live jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $28.61 | −3% | 3,010 | 18 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $39.49 | +34% | 1,070 | 1 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $28.63 | −3% | 800 | 2 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $38.22 | +30% | 680 | 6 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $32.61 | +11% | 630 | 2 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $38.98 | +32% | 540 | 6 |
| Fresno | $23.11 | −22% | 330 | 3 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $22.86 | −23% | 170 | – |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $29.32 | −1% | 150 | – |
| Vallejo | $39.71 | +35% | 140 | – |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $29.03 | −2% | 100 | 1 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $29.36 | 0% | 100 | – |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $24.53 | −17% | 80 | 3 |
| Salinas | $29.08 | −1% | 70 | – |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $36.44 | +24% | 60 | – |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $39.12 | +33% | 50 | – |
| Visalia | $23.47 | −20% | 50 | – |
| Merced | $24.57 | −17% | 40 | – |
| Redding | $29.73 | +1% | 40 | – |
| Chico | $22.53 | −24% | n/a | – |
BLS OEWS May 2025 for 31-9093, metro areas with a published estimate (20); BLS did not publish one for 5 other California metro areas. Metros that cross state lines are listed in each state. Live jobs: listings on SterileShift placed in metros with the Census Bureau's delineation files, Oct 21, 2026. Sources: BLS Public Data API: OEWS May 2025 metro and state series for 31-9093, U.S. Census Bureau: July 2023 metropolitan area delineation files (used to place listings in metros)
Live sterile processing jobs in California
61 live openings in 52 listings (15 staff, 27 travel), as of Oct 21, 2026.
61 live openings in California. See them all
Certification rules
California is not on HSPA's list of states that require sterile processing certification, but many employers ask for a CRCST or CSPDT anyway. Source: HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map)
Getting started: how to become an SPD tech · CRCST vs CBSPD · entry-level jobs
How these numbers work
- BLS figures are the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for SOC 31-9093 (medical equipment preparers), pulled from the official BLS data API. They reflect wages actually paid to everyone in the job, including long-tenured staff.
- Posted figures are the median of the midpoint of each live listing's advertised range, for staff technician roles paid hourly, before shift differentials and sign-on bonuses. They rebuild every day.
- Compare every state on one page: salary by state.
More salary guides
Texas Florida New York Massachusetts Pennsylvania Georgia New Jersey Ohio Arizona New York City Los Angeles Houston Dallas–Fort Worth Chicago Boston
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sterile processing tech make in California?
The BLS median wage for medical equipment preparers (SOC 31-9093, which covers sterile processing technicians) in California was $29.50 an hour, or $61,370 a year, in May 2025, against $22.93 nationally. In live listings on SterileShift (Oct 21, 2026), the median posted pay for staff technicians in California is $39.95 an hour across 12 listings that show hourly pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile).
What is the pay range for sterile processing techs in California?
BLS puts the 10th percentile at $21.00 an hour and the 90th percentile at $40.98 in California (May 2025); the middle half earn between $23.87 and $37.34. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile).
Which metro area in California pays sterile processing techs the most?
Of the 20 California metro areas with a published BLS estimate, Vallejo has the highest median, $39.71 an hour (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile).
Does California pay sterile processing techs more than other states?
By BLS median hourly wage for 31-9093, California ranks 1 of 51 (the 50 states and DC) ($29.50 vs the national $22.93, May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile).
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile)
- BLS Public Data API: OEWS May 2025 metro and state series for 31-9093
- U.S. Census Bureau: July 2023 metropolitan area delineation files (used to place listings in metros)
- 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.