Sterile Processing Tech Salary

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Hawaii: $53,481 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Hawaii's 10 metropolitan areas, the average median sterile processing technician pay sits at $53,481/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-9093. Because Hawaii sits at BEA RPP 119.3 (19% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $44,829 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Honolulu ($55,804), Kaneohe ($52,114), Mililani Town ($52,020).

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Hawaii - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Hawaii sterile processing technician salary overview (2026)
$53,481
Avg Median Salary
$25.71
Avg Hourly Rate
285
Metro Employed
10
Cities

The salary landscape for sterile processing technicians in Hawaii shows promising figures for 2026, with an average median salary of $53,482, outpacing the national median of $47,724 by 12.1%. Honolulu ranks as the highest-paying city for this role, offering $58,159, while Urban Honolulu has the lowest salary at $51,546. The significant salary difference between these cities primarily stems from variations in the cost of living, facility types, and demand for healthcare services in urban versus suburban areas. In Hawaii, sterile processing technicians must comply with state licensing requirements and understand specific scope of practice laws, which may influence salary expectations. The projected growth rate for this profession is 4.22%, indicating a steady demand driven by the increasing need for healthcare services and surgical procedures. With a total of 285 sterile processing technicians employed across the state, job opportunities are promising. Cities like Kaneohe, Mililani Town, Kailua, and East Honolulu are also projected to offer competitive salaries, ranging between $53,580 and $54,313. Overall, the job market for sterile processing technicians in Hawaii shows potential, given the favorable salary structure and projected growth in employment.

Hawaii Sterile Processing Technician Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$42,210
avg across 10 cities
Median
$53,481
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$70,406
avg across 10 cities

Overall salary range in Hawaii: $39,586 (lowest entry-level) to $86,713 (highest top earner)

Hawaii vs National Average

Hawaii
$53,481
National Median
$47,724

Hawaii sterile processing technicians earn 12.06% more than the national median (+$5,757/year difference).

Hawaii Sterile Processing Technician Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Hawaii sterile processing technician salary percentiles: 10th percentile $42,210, 25th $47,991, Median $53,481, 75th $64,585, 90th $70,406. US national median is $47,724.$19.7K$39.4K$59.1K$78.9K$42.2K10thEntry Level$48.0K25thEarly Career$53.5KMedianMid Career$64.6K75thExperienced$70.4K90thTop EarnerUS Median $47.7K

Sterile Processing Technician salaries in Hawaii range from $42,210 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $70,406 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $53,481. The Hawaii median is $5,757 above the US national median of $47,724. The average hourly rate is $25.71/hr. Approximately 285 sterile processing technicians are employed across 10 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$44,610

2025 BLS Actual

$51,316

2026 Current Est.

$53,481

2019–2027 Growth

+24.9%

Salary Trajectory for Sterile Processing Technicians in Hawaii (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 Hawaii. Baseline $44,610 in 2025, projected to $55,738 by 2027.$42.0K$46.4K$50.9K$55.3K$59.7K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$44.6K$44.5K$48.5K$52.3K$54.5K$57.2K$51.3K$53.5K$55.7K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$44,610Actual
2020$44,550Actual
2021$48,490Actual
2022$52,270Actual
2023$54,550Actual
2024$57,190Actual
2025$51,316Actual
2026(current)$53,481Estimated
2027$55,738Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Hawaii metropolitan area, the median sterile processing technician salary grew 15.0% from $44,610 (2019) to $51,316 (2025). At a 4.22% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $55,738 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,128 (24.95%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Hawaii 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Hawaii

#1
Honolulu
68 employed · $27.96/hr
$58,159
+8.75% vs avg
#2
Kaneohe
5 employed · $26.11/hr
$54,313
+1.56% vs avg
#3
Mililani Town
5 employed · $26.07/hr
$54,215
+1.37% vs avg
#4
Kailua
6 employed · $26.04/hr
$54,182
+1.31% vs avg
#5
East Honolulu
12 employed · $25.76/hr
$53,580
+0.19% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Hawaii

CityMedian Salary
Urban Honolulu$51,546
Hilo$51,866
Kahului$51,946
Pearl City$53,049
Waipahu$53,559

Best Value Cities for Sterile Processing Technicians in Hawaii

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

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Honolulu$58,159119.3$48,750
Urban Honolulu$51,546110.961$46,454
Kaneohe$54,313119.3$45,526
Mililani Town$54,215119.3$45,444
Kailua$54,182119.3$45,417

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

Salary by Experience Level in Hawaii

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$42,210
Mid Career (3-7 years)$53,481
Experienced (7+ years)$70,406

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

All 10 Cities in Hawaii

#CityMedian Salary
1Honolulu$58,159
2Kaneohe$54,313
3Mililani Town$54,215
4Kailua$54,182
5East Honolulu$53,580
6Waipahu$53,559
7Pearl City$53,049
8Kahului$51,946
9Hilo$51,866
10Urban Honolulu$51,546

More Hawaii Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore sterile processing technician hourly pay in Hawaii cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new sterile processing technicians.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced sterile processing technicians.

Explore More Sterile Processing Technician Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The average median sterile processing technician salary in Hawaii is $53,481/year across 10 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $51,546 in Urban Honolulu to $58,159 in Honolulu. This makes Hawaii one of the higher-paying states, at 12.06% above the national median of $47,724. The state employs approximately 285 sterile processing technicians.

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

Honolulu offers the highest sterile processing technician salary in Hawaii at $58,159/year ($27.96/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Honolulu ($58,159), Kaneohe ($54,313), Mililani Town ($54,215). 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 Hawaii sterile processing technician pay compare to the national average?

Hawaii's average sterile processing technician salary of $53,481 is 12.06% above the national median of $47,724 in 2026. The state employs approximately 285 sterile processing technicians across 10 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 Hawaii?

Entry-level sterile processing technicians (10th percentile) in Hawaii earn approximately $42,210/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $39,586 in lower-paying areas to $42,895 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 Hawaii?

Hawaii employs approximately 285 sterile processing technicians across 10 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. The smaller workforce means positions may be less competitive but also fewer in number. Demand continues to grow as the sterile processing field expands and the population ages.

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

When adjusted for cost of living, Honolulu offers the highest purchasing power for sterile processing technicians in Hawaii, with an adjusted salary of $48,750 (nominal: $58,159, CoL index: 119.3). This means your dollar goes 16% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.
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

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 Hawaii. State averages are employment-weighted across 10 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 (). 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

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