Sterile Processing Technician Hourly Pay in Daphne, AL: $17.36 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a sterile processing technician working in Daphne, AL runs $17.36 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $36,099 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9093). Weighted against Daphne's regional price level (BEA RPP 94.7, 5% below national), each hour of work buys what $18.34 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $21,669 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
With an hourly rate of $17.36, sterile processing technicians in Daphne, Alabama, find themselves earning significantly less than the national median hourly rate of $22.94. For those working part-time, such as a typical three-day workweek, this rate translates to a modest weekly income, which may limit their financial flexibility compared to full-time positions. Per-diem roles, where technicians can work flexibly across various clinical environments including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and central processing locations, also offer a diverse range of earnings. Here, the pay for entry-level technicians can start at $16.31, while experienced professionals may make as much as $22.61 per hour, reflecting the spectrum of skills and specializations needed in settings like decontamination or instrument processing rooms. This data, based on 2025 BLS OEWS projections for 2026, illustrates the landscape for sterile processing technician hourly pay in Daphne, AL.
Sterile Processing Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $16.31 | $130.48 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $17.24 | $137.90 |
| Median (P50) | $17.36 | $138.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $19.89 | $159.08 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $22.61 | $180.84 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Daphne
Based on $17.36/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $17.36/hr, a sterile processing technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Daphne, AL can expect to earn approximately $36,115 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $20,836. With a cost-of-living index of 94.69 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Daphne.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Daphne
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $694.52 | $3,010 | $36,115 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $416.71 | $1,806 | $21,669 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $277.81 | $1,204 | $14,446 |
Compare SPT, CRCST Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Sterile Processing Technician (Daphne) | $17.36 |
| Surgical Technologist (National Avg) | $29.34 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $20.14 |
| Phlebotomist (National Avg) | $20.36 |
| Nursing Assistant (National Avg) | $18.86 |
Sterile Processing Technicians in Daphne, AL earn a median of $36,099 per year (2026 est.), which is 24.36% lower than the national median of $47,724 and 0.70% above the Alabama state average of $35,848.
Sterile Processing Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $17.36/hr = $21,669/year (purchasing power: $22,884).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $36,115/year (purchasing power: $38,140).
CoL index: 94.69 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$13.08/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$16.66/hr
2026 Current Est.
$17.36/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+38.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Sterile Processing Technicians in Daphne (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.22% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $13.08/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $13.55/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $13.35/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $14.49/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $15.81/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $14.88/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $16.66/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $17.36/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $18.10/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for sterile processing technicians in Daphne grew 27.4% from $13.08/hr (2019) to $16.66/hr (2025). At a 4.22% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $18.10/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem sterile processing technicians can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Daphne metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.22% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Sterile Processing Technician in Daphne
Part-time sterile processing technicians, working an average of 24 hours per week in Daphne, could anticipate an annual take-home pay that remains quite variable, especially when compared to their full-time counterparts. Per-diem roles are particularly enticing, with many reporting hourly billing rates between $22 and $32, depending on experience and credentials, and certified endoscope reprocessors commanding rates as high as $28 to $40 per hour. This is especially relevant in today’s job market, where travel contract positions have surged, offering $1,000 to $1,500 per week in shortage areas post-2020. In Daphne, variations in pay can differ greatly among employers: hospitals tend to provide stability and benefits, while specialty surgical and dental practices may offer higher hourly rates but fewer benefits. Thus, technicians must consider the trade-off between higher hourly wages without benefits and lower rates that include health insurance and other perks. Negotiating effectively requires awareness of the prevailing rates in different sectors and leveraging credentials like CRCST or CER to enhance marketability.
More salary data for Daphne, AL:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for sterile processing technicians in Daphne in 2026?
How much do part-time sterile processing technicians make in Daphne?
Are sterile processing technicians in Daphne paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time sterile processing technician make per year in Daphne?
Do sterile processing technicians earn more per hour working part-time in Daphne?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Alabama
Written by Amina Patel, CCSVP
Career Analyst
Amina has 8 years of experience in sterile processing. She specialized in instrument sterilization techniques in a large hospital. Amina analyzes career trends for sterile processing technicians.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 4.22% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for sterile processing technicians in Daphne. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.22%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for sterile processing technicians (SOC 31-9093).
Compiled and verified by Amina Patel, CCSVP, a licensed sterile processing technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov