Sterile Processing Tech Salary

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Manteca, CA: $59,405 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time sterile processing technician in Manteca, CA earns a median $59,405/year (≈ $28.56/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9093). Once you factor in Manteca's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $52,524 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% below the California state average.

$59,405
Median Annual Salary
$28.56/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$46,748
Entry Level (P10)
$87,215
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Manteca, CA — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Manteca, CA sterile processing technician salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In Manteca, California, the compensation for sterile processing technicians reflects the evolving landscape of healthcare employment. As of 2026, these professionals are projected to earn a median annual salary of $59,405, significantly higher than the national counterpart of $47,724, demonstrating a 24.48% premium for local workers. Salaries range from $46,748 at the lower end of the spectrum to $87,215 for those positioned at the top end of the pay scale. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for local living costs, illustrate that Manteca has embraced the post-2021 shift toward credential-required hiring, which has contributed to robust wage growth in this sector and improved job opportunities in the region.

About the Manteca Market

Salary estimated from California average ($62,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$46,748$22.47
Lower Range (P25)$50,175$24.13
Median (P50)(typical)$59,405$28.56
Upper Range (P75)$73,265$35.23
Top Earners (P90)$87,215$41.93

Median Salary Position

$46,748$87,215
City Median: $59,405
National: $47,724
P10–P90 Range

24.48% above the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Manteca

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for sterile processing technicians in Manteca. The median salary is $59,405, compared to the national median of $47,724.$42.1K$54.4K$66.8K$79.2K$91.6K$46.7K10th Pctl$50.2K25th Pctl$59.4KMedian$73.3K75th Pctl$87.2K90th PctlUS Median$47.7K

In Manteca, CA, the sterile processing technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $40,467 (2026 est.). At $59,405, the local median is 24.48% above the national median of $47,724.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of sterile processing technician pay in the Manteca metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,142
per week
$4,950
per month
$59,397
per year

At 40 hours/week in Manteca: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Manteca Sterile Processing Technician Pay Compares

Manteca median: $59,405/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryManteca Pays
California Average$60,742-2.20% less
National Average$47,724+24.48% more
Horizontal bar chart comparing sterile processing technician median salary in Manteca ($59,405) with California average ($60,742) and the US national median ($47,724).Manteca$59,405California Avg$60,742-2.20%US National$47,724+24.48%

Sterile Processing Technicians in Manteca, CA earn a median of $59,405 per year (2026 est.), which is 24.48% higher than the national median of $47,724 and 2.20% below the California state average of $60,742.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$59,405
Nominal Salary
113.1
CoL Index
$52,524
Adjusted Salary

Manteca has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.

Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $59,405. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 113.1, the purchasing-power equivalent is $52,524, a loss of $6,881.$40.6K$47.5K$54.4K$61.4K$68.3K$59,405NominalSalary$52,524CoL Adjusted(CoL: 113.1) -11.58%US Median $47.7K

Manteca, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $59,405 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $52,524 — a 11.58% reduction.

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2019 BLS Actual

$44,740

2025 BLS Actual

$57,000

2026 Current Est.

$59,405

2019–2027 Growth

+38.4%

Salary Trajectory for Sterile Processing Technicians in Manteca (20192027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for sterile processing technicians in Manteca. Baseline $44,740 in 2025, projected to $61,912 by 2027.$40.0K$48.3K$56.6K$65.0K$73.3K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$44.7K$46.4K$45.7K$49.6K$54.1K$68.6K$57.0K$59.4K$61.9K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$44,740Actual
2020$46,365Actual
2021$45,672Actual
2022$49,567Actual
2023$54,108Actual
2024$68,552Actual
2025$57,000Actual
2026(current)$59,405Estimated
2027$61,912Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Manteca metropolitan area, the median sterile processing technician salary grew 27.4% from $44,740 (2019) to $57,000 (2025). At a 4.22% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $61,912 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,172 (38.38%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Manteca metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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.

Salary by Experience Level

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$46,748$50,175
3-5 years (Mid Career)$50,175$59,405
5+ years (Experienced)$59,405$73,265
10+ years (Top Earner)$73,265$87,215

SPT, CRCST salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual sterile processing technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

Sterile Processing Technician Job Market in Manteca

The job market for sterile processing technicians in Manteca currently employs 13 individuals, highlighting a niche yet essential workforce. Given Manteca’s cost of living index of 113.1, which exceeds the national average, professionals must consider how far their salaries stretch in terms of purchasing power. Among local employers, hospital sterile processing departments typically offer the strongest pay, followed by specialty surgical and dental practices. Variations in salary can be attributed to factors such as shift differentials for evening and overnight shifts, credential stacking including CRCST, CIS, and CER, as well as roles in trauma centers versus ambulatory surgery centers. For those looking to maximize their earnings, gaining additional certifications and seeking out positions in facilities that handle complex surgical cases may prove advantageous in this evolving job market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do sterile processing technicians make in Manteca, CA in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median sterile processing technician salary in Manteca is $59,405/year ($28.56/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 4.22% annual growth). Salaries range from $46,748 at entry level (10th percentile) to $87,215 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Manteca at 24.5% above the national median. Full-time sterile processing technicians typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Manteca, CA a good place to work as a sterile processing technician?

Manteca sterile processing technician salaries are 24.5% above the national average and 2.2% below the California state average. The metro area employs approximately 13 sterile processing technicians. With a cost-of-living index of 113.1, you should factor in higher living costs when evaluating compensation. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can sterile processing technicians make $100K in Manteca?

The median sterile processing technician salary in Manteca is $59,405, and the 90th percentile earns $87,215. Reaching $100K in this market typically requires a combination of advanced certifications, working at multiple practices, or transitioning into education or consulting roles.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted sterile processing technician salary in Manteca?

After adjusting for Manteca's cost-of-living index of 113.1 (where 100 equals the national average), the $59,405 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $52,524 in an average-cost city. This means living costs in Manteca reduce the effective value of your salary by 11.6% compared to the national average — consider negotiating higher base pay or exploring nearby lower-cost metros.

How much does a sterile processing technician make per hour in Manteca?

Sterile Processing Technicians in Manteca earn a median hourly rate of $28.56, which translates to approximately $59,405/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $22.47 for entry-level positions to $41.93 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem sterile processing technicians sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

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AP

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

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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $57,000 for sterile processing techniciansin the Manteca metropolitan area. A 4.22% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.

Data Sources & Methodology

Salary data for Manteca is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).

View estimation methodology

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

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