Philadelphia pay at a glance
| Hourly pay | BLS, Philadelphia | BLS, Pennsylvania | BLS, U.S. | Live staff listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $19.98 | $18.03 | $17.50 | – |
| 25th percentile | $22.46 | $19.09 | $19.13 | – |
| Median | $24.22 | $22.03 | $22.93 | $23.06 |
| 75th percentile | $27.44 | $24.06 | $28.16 | – |
| 90th percentile | $28.97 | $27.44 | $33.63 | – |
| Mean | $24.70 | $22.24 | $24.28 | – |
| Sample | 1,660 employed | 3,450 employed | 77,420 employed | 2 listings with hourly pay |
The BLS median in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area is $24.22 an hour, 6% above the national median of $22.93 and 10% above Pennsylvania as a whole ($22.03). BLS's annual median is $50,370. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile)
Live staff technician listings in the metro have a median of $23.06 an hour across 2 listings that publish hourly pay, ranging from $23.06 to $23.06 (midpoints). That is a small sample, so treat it as an indication rather than a benchmark.
Travel contracts here quote a median of $1,152 a week (4 listings), which can include tax-free stipends. See travel SPD pay.
Other metro areas in Pennsylvania
| Metro area (BLS) | Median hourly | vs Philadelphia | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $20.03 | −17% | 640 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $21.79 | −10% | 300 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $21.69 | −10% | 270 |
| Lancaster | $22.03 | −9% | 160 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $22.00 | −9% | 160 |
| York-Hanover | $22.27 | −8% | 110 |
| Erie | $21.09 | −13% | 70 |
| Reading | $20.47 | −15% | 70 |
BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093, largest metros by employment. All Pennsylvania metros: Pennsylvania salary guide. Source: BLS Public Data API: OEWS May 2025 metro and state series for 31-9093
Live sterile processing jobs in the Philadelphia area
14 live openings in 14 listings (10 staff, 4 travel), in Bucks County, Camden County, Gloucester County, Langhorne, Montgomery County, Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, 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.
All Pennsylvania jobs All New Jersey jobs All Maryland jobs
Certification rules
Pennsylvania requires certification. New hires: within 18 months of date of hire (CRCST or CSPDT). State rules explained · law text
New Jersey requires certification. New hires: within 3 years of employment (A national sterile processing certification recognized by NJ DOH). State rules explained · law text
Delaware requires certification. New hires: within 18 months of date of hire (CRCST or CSPDT). State rules explained · law text
Maryland 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
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a sterile processing tech make in Philadelphia?
The BLS median wage for medical equipment preparers (SOC 31-9093, which covers sterile processing technicians) in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area was $24.22 an hour, or $50,370 a year, in May 2025, against $22.93 nationally. In live listings on SterileShift (Oct 22, 2026), the median posted pay for staff technicians in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area is $23.06 an hour across 2 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 Philadelphia?
BLS puts the 10th percentile at $19.98 an hour and the 90th percentile at $28.97 in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area (May 2025); the middle half earn between $22.46 and $27.44. 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.