Nashville pay at a glance
| Hourly pay | BLS, Nashville | BLS, Tennessee | BLS, U.S. | Live staff listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.92 | $16.87 | $17.50 | – |
| 25th percentile | $21.73 | $17.84 | $19.13 | – |
| Median | $23.68 | $22.59 | $22.93 | – |
| 75th percentile | $28.60 | $26.79 | $28.16 | – |
| 90th percentile | $29.75 | $29.02 | $33.63 | – |
| Mean | $24.46 | $22.80 | $24.28 | – |
| Sample | 540 employed | 1,590 employed | 77,420 employed | 0 listings with hourly pay |
The BLS median in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin metro area is $23.68 an hour, 3% above the national median of $22.93 and 5% above Tennessee as a whole ($22.59). BLS's annual median is $49,260. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile)
None of the 24 live listings in the metro publish an hourly rate for a staff technician role right now, so the BLS figures are the best guide here.
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| Metro area (BLS) | Median hourly | vs Nashville | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $21.87 | −8% | 280 |
| Chattanooga | $22.05 | −7% | 220 |
| Knoxville | $22.24 | −6% | 210 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $23.10 | −2% | 80 |
| Johnson City | $21.86 | −8% | 60 |
| Jackson | $18.62 | −21% | 50 |
BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093, largest metros by employment. Source: BLS Public Data API: OEWS May 2025 metro and state series for 31-9093
Live sterile processing jobs in the Nashville area
24 live openings in 20 listings (20 staff, 0 travel), in Lebanon, Nashville, as of Oct 22, 2026. Listings are matched to the metro by city, using the Census Bureau's county-based metro definitions; listings that only give a state are not counted.
Certification rules
Tennessee requires certification. New hires: within 2 years of date of hire (CRCST or CSPDT). State rules explained · law text
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
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a sterile processing tech make in Nashville?
The BLS median wage for medical equipment preparers (SOC 31-9093, which covers sterile processing technicians) in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin metro area was $23.68 an hour, or $49,260 a year, in May 2025, against $22.93 nationally. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile).
What is the pay range for sterile processing techs in Nashville?
BLS puts the 10th percentile at $17.92 an hour and the 90th percentile at $29.75 in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin metro area (May 2025); the middle half earn between $21.73 and $28.60. 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: 593 live sterile processing openings collected from public hospital and staffing-agency career sites, Oct 22, 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.