Sterile Processing Technician Salary in California: $65,188 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median sterile processing technician pay sits at $65,188/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-9093. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $57,637 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Oakland ($80,649), Sunnyvale ($79,674), Vallejo ($79,306).

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California sterile processing technician salary overview (2026)

$65,188

Avg Median Salary

$31.34

Avg Hourly Rate

11,201

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In California, sterile processing technicians can expect to earn an average median salary of $65,189 in 2026, which is significantly higher than the national median of $47,724, reflecting a 36.6% premium. The salary range in California varies notably between cities, from a low of $46,894 in Chico to a high of $84,052 in Oakland, illustrating a substantial gap of $37,158. Factors contributing to this disparity include the cost of living in metropolitan areas, local demand for healthcare services, and competition for skilled workers. California's regulations, including state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws, also influence salaries and job opportunities. The state is experiencing a 4.22% annual growth rate in this field, indicating a healthy job market for sterile processing technicians. With a total of 11,201 technicians employed across various regions, cities like Sunnyvale ($83,036), Vallejo ($82,653), Santa Clara ($82,491), and Fremont ($82,198) follow closely behind Oakland in terms of average compensation. The ongoing demand for healthcare services, particularly in surgical settings, drives the need for skilled personnel in sterile processing. As the healthcare sector continues to evolve, prospects for technicians in California remain favorable.

California Sterile Processing Technician Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$46,954

avg across 157 cities

Median

$65,188

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$85,812

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $35,379 (lowest entry-level) to $130,192 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$65,188

National Median

$47,724

California sterile processing technicians earn 36.59% more than the national median (+$17,464/year difference).

California Sterile Processing Technician Salary Distribution (2026)

Sterile Processing Technician salaries in California range from $46,954 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $85,812 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $65,188. The California median is $17,464 above the US national median of $47,724. The average hourly rate is $31.34/hr. Approximately 11,201 sterile processing technicians are employed across 157 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$50,388

2025 BLS Actual

$62,549

2026 Current Est.

$65,188

2019–2027 Growth

+34.8%

Salary Trajectory for Sterile Processing Technicians in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.22% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$50,388	Actual
2020	$53,485	Actual
2021	$55,904	Actual
2022	$60,421	Actual
2023	$61,234	Actual
2024	$66,938	Actual
2025	$62,549	Actual
2026(current)	$65,188	Estimated
2027	$67,939	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median sterile processing technician salary grew 24.1% from $50,388 (2019) to $62,549 (2025). At a 4.22% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,939 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,551 (34.83%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Oakland

78 employed · $40.41/hr

$84,052

+28.94% vs avg

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $39.92/hr

$83,036

+27.38% vs avg

Vallejo

140 employed · $39.73/hr

$82,653

+26.79% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $39.66/hr

$82,491

+26.54% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $39.52/hr

$82,198

+26.09% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Chico	$46,894	-28.06%	$22.54
Bakersfield	$47,564	-27.04%	$22.88
Fresno	$48,085	-26.24%	$23.13
Visalia	$48,835	-25.09%	$23.48
Santa Maria	$51,037	-21.71%	$24.54

Best Value Cities for Sterile Processing Technicians in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for sterile processing technicians.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Vallejo	$82,653	108.479	$76,193
Sacramento	$79,530	106.67	$74,557
Oakland	$84,052	113.1	$74,317
Santa Cruz	$81,411	109.896	$74,080
San Jose	$81,131	110.423	$73,473

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$46,954	$22.57	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$65,188	$31.34	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$85,812	$41.26	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Oakland	$84,052	$40.41	$61,109	$130,192	78
2	Sunnyvale	$83,036	$39.92	$62,239	$125,065	26
3	Vallejo	$82,653	$39.73	$43,502	$85,424	140
4	Santa Clara	$82,491	$39.66	$60,961	$120,044	32
5	Fremont	$82,198	$39.52	$56,935	$127,408	43
6	San Francisco	$82,182	$39.51	$57,660	$95,719	1,070
7	Santa Cruz	$81,411	$39.15	$38,069	$85,864	50
8	San Jose	$81,131	$39.00	$58,680	$98,590	540
9	Folsom	$80,068	$38.50	$58,745	$115,553	17
10	Sacramento	$79,530	$38.24	$48,675	$85,483	680
11	Roseville	$79,203	$38.08	$62,070	$119,744	35
12	San Luis Obispo	$75,839	$36.46	$52,146	$78,730	60
13	Chula Vista	$67,944	$32.66	$46,896	$102,160	51
14	San Diego	$67,865	$32.63	$49,186	$79,580	630
15	Carlsbad	$67,298	$32.35	$52,090	$101,350	23
16	Santa Ana	$64,384	$30.95	$45,404	$97,704	69
17	Fontana	$63,193	$30.38	$44,619	$95,928	32
18	Irvine	$63,123	$30.35	$47,239	$97,551	72
19	Pomona	$62,815	$30.20	$46,831	$92,272	36
20	Simi Valley	$62,781	$30.18	$46,940	$94,322	23
21	Escondido	$62,766	$30.17	$46,968	$91,934	31
22	Fairfield	$62,653	$30.12	$46,638	$91,532	25
23	Fullerton	$62,423	$30.02	$45,911	$93,203	25
24	Daly City	$62,368	$29.98	$45,785	$90,689	20
25	El Monte	$62,349	$29.97	$45,990	$92,939	20
26	Vista	$62,314	$29.96	$45,910	$92,655	24
27	Concord	$62,300	$29.95	$45,876	$92,765	29
28	Clovis	$62,207	$29.91	$45,659	$89,956	19
29	Garden Grove	$62,142	$29.88	$45,261	$92,207	37
30	Temecula	$62,128	$29.87	$45,476	$89,842	25
31	Santa Clarita	$62,086	$29.85	$46,712	$96,234	41
32	Lancaster	$62,005	$29.81	$45,192	$95,735	40
33	Inglewood	$62,005	$29.81	$45,192	$95,735	21
34	Corona	$61,926	$29.78	$44,948	$95,252	24
35	Richmond	$61,917	$29.77	$44,740	$91,407	25
36	Rialto	$61,887	$29.75	$44,919	$91,302	17
37	Redding	$61,871	$29.74	$40,020	$79,310	40
38	Torrance	$61,809	$29.71	$44,490	$95,030	26
39	Elk Grove	$61,691	$29.66	$44,405	$90,449	25
40	Oceanside	$61,676	$29.65	$44,372	$90,358	28
41	Whittier	$61,658	$29.64	$47,281	$88,815	22
42	San Rafael	$61,653	$29.64	$47,207	$88,760	11
43	Modesto	$61,625	$29.63	$44,203	$94,626	45
44	Rancho Cucamonga	$61,597	$29.61	$44,191	$90,121	46
45	Hayward	$61,563	$29.60	$44,112	$93,989	23
46	Woodland	$61,547	$29.59	$46,952	$90,675	15
47	Buena Park	$61,538	$29.59	$46,993	$88,554	20
48	Encinitas	$61,533	$29.59	$46,981	$88,379	16
49	Downey	$61,528	$29.58	$43,848	$94,026	22
50	Dublin	$61,494	$29.57	$46,889	$88,403	14
51	Redlands	$61,475	$29.56	$46,843	$90,579	16
52	Chino	$61,442	$29.54	$46,699	$88,062	17
53	Westminster	$61,422	$29.53	$46,464	$90,392	21
54	Santa Monica	$61,418	$29.53	$46,642	$87,978	20
55	San Mateo	$61,411	$29.53	$43,764	$93,446	21
56	Tulare	$61,393	$29.52	$46,583	$87,894	17
57	San Buenaventura	$61,372	$29.50	$48,304	$93,467	19
58	Moreno Valley	$61,330	$29.48	$45,254	$93,565	53
59	Mission Viejo	$61,330	$29.48	$46,497	$87,833	23
60	Pleasanton	$61,321	$29.48	$46,474	$89,880	16
61	Pasadena	$61,234	$29.44	$46,475	$92,818	35
62	Santee	$61,191	$29.42	$46,164	$87,350	9
63	Glendale	$61,136	$29.39	$47,750	$92,630	36
64	Mountain View	$61,104	$29.38	$45,958	$87,050	13
65	Pittsburg	$61,100	$29.38	$45,696	$89,263	19
66	Stockton	$61,092	$29.38	$45,053	$85,304	100
67	Novato	$61,080	$29.37	$45,838	$86,811	11
68	Costa Mesa	$61,057	$29.36	$46,064	$92,350	23
69	Santa Rosa	$61,011	$29.34	$41,421	$83,703	150
70	Berkeley	$60,994	$29.33	$47,417	$88,172	23
71	Huntington Beach	$60,979	$29.32	$47,566	$94,183	50
72	Jurupa Valley	$60,925	$29.29	$47,440	$91,722	24
73	Hemet	$60,907	$29.29	$45,490	$86,370	14
74	Union City	$60,902	$29.28	$45,478	$86,353	11
75	West Covina	$60,896	$29.28	$47,371	$91,579	25
76	Chino Hills	$60,878	$29.26	$45,359	$88,325	21
77	Gilroy	$60,792	$29.22	$45,217	$92,051	10
78	San Marcos	$60,758	$29.21	$44,889	$91,934	17
79	Tustin	$60,705	$29.18	$44,764	$87,890	18
80	San Ramon	$60,700	$29.18	$45,001	$87,717	19
81	Eastvale	$60,642	$29.15	$44,866	$87,518	10
82	Murrieta	$60,640	$29.15	$46,838	$90,720	25
83	Vacaville	$60,640	$29.15	$46,838	$93,135	15
84	Brentwood	$60,613	$29.14	$44,797	$91,423	13
85	Anaheim	$60,610	$29.14	$43,548	$93,047	51
86	Hesperia	$60,585	$29.13	$44,730	$91,323	14
87	Lake Elsinore	$60,580	$29.13	$44,719	$91,150	18
88	Salinas	$60,521	$29.10	$45,663	$75,439	70
89	Citrus Heights	$60,503	$29.09	$44,537	$87,190	19
90	El Cajon	$60,449	$29.07	$44,422	$90,207	18
91	San Clemente	$60,431	$29.06	$44,307	$90,626	10
92	Petaluma	$60,428	$29.06	$47,839	$89,074	12
93	Oxnard	$60,411	$29.05	$42,611	$79,691	100
94	Bellflower	$60,407	$29.05	$44,312	$90,696	11
95	Ontario	$60,394	$29.04	$44,321	$89,731	42
96	Palmdale	$60,380	$29.03	$46,175	$92,054	29
97	La Mirada	$60,380	$29.03	$47,614	$84,299	10
98	Apple Valley	$60,368	$29.03	$44,222	$86,571	19
99	Menifee	$60,351	$29.01	$46,167	$89,863	20
100	Yucaipa	$60,325	$29.00	$44,120	$90,409	14
101	Norwalk	$60,321	$29.00	$46,039	$89,603	22
102	Yuba City	$60,296	$28.98	$44,054	$86,479	10
103	Rancho Cordova	$60,267	$28.97	$43,986	$90,052	20
104	Lodi	$60,249	$28.96	$47,226	$88,107	14
105	Montebello	$60,209	$28.94	$43,851	$90,003	16
106	Compton	$60,185	$28.93	$43,734	$85,943	25
107	Thousand Oaks	$60,167	$28.93	$47,220	$91,141	32
108	Porterville	$60,142	$28.91	$43,694	$85,949	11
109	Lompoc	$60,134	$28.91	$47,071	$83,471	8
110	Hawthorne	$60,041	$28.87	$43,460	$85,603	13
111	Antioch	$60,021	$28.86	$45,350	$90,793	17
112	Burbank	$60,016	$28.86	$43,441	$88,699	22
113	Napa	$59,907	$28.81	$47,940	$88,948	17
114	Alhambra	$59,878	$28.79	$47,871	$88,848	13
115	Livermore	$59,878	$28.79	$45,879	$88,848	21
116	Orange	$59,860	$28.78	$45,041	$88,156	21
117	South Gate	$59,858	$28.78	$47,580	$88,780	25
118	Victorville	$59,845	$28.78	$45,007	$87,948	30
119	West Sacramento	$59,824	$28.76	$47,499	$88,663	9
120	Poway	$59,809	$28.75	$46,272	$82,528	8
121	Long Beach	$59,748	$28.72	$41,669	$92,610	89
122	San Leandro	$59,728	$28.71	$47,453	$90,356	23
123	San Bernardino	$59,665	$28.68	$41,422	$92,481	33
124	Indio	$59,661	$28.68	$47,110	$88,096	23
125	Lake Forest	$59,661	$28.68	$47,110	$88,096	14
126	Riverside	$59,591	$28.64	$44,913	$92,097	800
127	Carson	$59,554	$28.63	$47,102	$89,902	21
128	Los Angeles	$59,550	$28.63	$43,703	$75,839	3,010
129	Rocklin	$59,545	$28.63	$47,079	$89,869	10
130	Newport Beach	$59,444	$28.58	$46,840	$87,348	12
131	Redwood City	$59,440	$28.58	$46,768	$87,143	13
132	Turlock	$59,425	$28.57	$46,733	$89,298	17
133	Manteca	$59,405	$28.56	$46,748	$87,215	13
134	Perris	$59,401	$28.56	$46,495	$87,200	12
135	Madera	$59,352	$28.54	$46,623	$86,881	8
136	Baldwin Park	$59,247	$28.48	$46,312	$86,518	19
137	Palo Alto	$59,247	$28.48	$46,374	$88,831	15
138	Lakewood	$59,223	$28.47	$46,316	$86,587	19
139	Hanford	$59,102	$28.41	$45,972	$85,985	10
140	Beaumont	$59,050	$28.39	$45,667	$85,994	9
141	Tracy	$59,035	$28.38	$45,876	$85,794	14
142	Alameda	$59,016	$28.37	$45,830	$87,880	12
143	Laguna Niguel	$59,001	$28.37	$45,555	$87,981	16
144	Milpitas	$58,973	$28.35	$45,729	$87,731	16
145	Camarillo	$58,848	$28.30	$45,436	$85,304	13
146	Oakley	$58,823	$28.29	$43,887	$84,965	8
147	Davis	$58,809	$28.27	$45,286	$84,985	14
148	Upland	$58,765	$28.25	$45,003	$87,169	18
149	La Habra	$58,679	$28.21	$44,982	$86,684	16
150	Lynwood	$58,655	$28.20	$44,987	$84,650	16
151	Brea	$57,653	$27.72	$45,821	$82,954	10
152	Merced	$51,137	$24.59	$41,782	$57,840	40
153	Santa Maria	$51,037	$24.54	$38,680	$73,708	80
154	Visalia	$48,835	$23.48	$39,281	$62,722	50
155	Fresno	$48,085	$23.13	$35,379	$70,716	330
156	Bakersfield	$47,564	$22.88	$41,582	$74,027	170
157	Chico	$46,894	$22.54	$46,363	$59,461	N/A

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore sterile processing technician hourly pay in California cities.

Oakland →Sunnyvale →Vallejo →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new sterile processing technicians.

Oakland →Sunnyvale →Vallejo →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced sterile processing technicians.

Oakland →Sunnyvale →Vallejo →

Compare Cities in California

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Explore More Sterile Processing Technician Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do sterile processing technicians make in California in 2026?

The average median sterile processing technician salary in California is $65,188/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $46,894 in Chico to $84,052 in Oakland. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 36.59% above the national median of $47,724. The state employs approximately 11,201 sterile processing technicians.

What is the highest paying city for sterile processing technicians in California?

Oakland offers the highest sterile processing technician salary in California at $84,052/year ($40.41/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Oakland ($84,052), Sunnyvale ($83,036), Vallejo ($82,653). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for sterile processing services, and competition among employers for licensed sterile processing technicians.

How does California sterile processing technician pay compare to the national average?

California's average sterile processing technician salary of $65,188 is 36.59% above the national median of $47,724 in 2026. The state employs approximately 11,201 sterile processing technicians across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level sterile processing technician salary in California?

Entry-level sterile processing technicians (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $46,954/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $35,379 in lower-paying areas to $62,239 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many sterile processing technicians are employed in California?

California employs approximately 11,201 sterile processing technicians across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of sterile processing technicians nationally. Demand continues to grow as the sterile processing field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for sterile processing technicians?

When adjusted for cost of living, Vallejo offers the highest purchasing power for sterile processing technicians in California, with an adjusted salary of $76,193 (nominal: $82,653, CoL index: 108.479). This means your dollar goes 8% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

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.

Clinically reviewed by David Kim, CSTData verified by Maya Lopez, CSPDT

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary 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 each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 sterile processing technician compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more sterile processing technicianscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). 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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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