Sterile Processing Tech Salary

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Moline, IL: $40,658 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time sterile processing technician in Moline, IL earns a median $40,658/year (≈ $19.55/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9093). Once you factor in Moline's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $41,872 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.6% below the Illinois state average.

$40,658
Median Annual Salary
$19.55/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$31,488
Entry Level (P10)
$56,342
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

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

In 2026, Moline, IL, offers a median annual salary of $40,658 for sterile processing technicians, positioning local pay below the national median of $47,724. The pay range extends from $31,488 at the lower end (P10) to $56,342 for top earners (P90), reflecting both the demand for skilled technicians and the economic landscape in Illinois. Based on 2025 BLS data projected to 2026 and adjusted for regional specifics, these figures highlight the effects of shift differentials and the need for critical roles during evening and overnight surgical tray turnovers, often compensated at a premium for their importance to hospital operations. The competitive job market for sterile processing technicians in Moline indicates a structured hierarchy in compensation, essential for attracting talent in this crucial field of healthcare.

About the Moline Market

Salary estimated from Illinois average ($46,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$31,488$15.14
Lower Range (P25)$33,888$16.29
Median (P50)(typical)$40,658$19.55
Upper Range (P75)$49,313$23.71
Top Earners (P90)$56,342$27.09

Median Salary Position

$31,488$56,342
City Median: $40,658
National: $47,724
P10–P90 Range

14.81% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Moline

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for sterile processing technicians in Moline. The median salary is $40,658, compared to the national median of $47,724.$28.3K$36.0K$43.7K$51.5K$59.2K$31.5K10th Pctl$33.9K25th Pctl$40.7KMedian$49.3K75th Pctl$56.3K90th PctlUS Median$47.7K

In Moline, IL, the sterile processing technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $24,854 (2026 est.). At $40,658, the local median is 14.81% below the national median of $47,724.

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

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$782
per week
$3,389
per month
$40,667
per year

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

How Moline Sterile Processing Technician Pay Compares

Moline median: $40,658/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryMoline Pays
Illinois Average$43,070-5.60% less
National Average$47,724-14.81% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing sterile processing technician median salary in Moline ($40,658) with Illinois average ($43,070) and the US national median ($47,724).Moline$40,658Illinois Avg$43,070-5.60%US National$47,724-14.81%

Sterile Processing Technicians in Moline, IL earn a median of $40,658 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.81% lower than the national median of $47,724 and 5.60% below the Illinois state average of $43,070.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$40,658
Nominal Salary
97.1
CoL Index
$41,872
Adjusted Salary

Moline has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.

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

The nominal salary is $40,658. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 97.1, the purchasing-power equivalent is $41,872, a gain of $1,214.$34.6K$39.6K$44.7K$49.8K$54.9K$40,658NominalSalary$41,872CoL Adjusted(CoL: 97.1) 2.99%US Median $47.7K

Moline, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A sterile processing technician earning $40,658 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $41,872 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.

Compare Purchasing Power

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2019 BLS Actual

$30,621

2025 BLS Actual

$39,012

2026 Current Est.

$40,658

2019–2027 Growth

+38.4%

Salary Trajectory for Sterile Processing Technicians in Moline (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 Moline. Baseline $30,621 in 2025, projected to $42,374 by 2027.$27.9K$32.6K$37.4K$42.1K$46.8K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$30.6K$31.7K$31.3K$33.9K$37.0K$44.1K$39.0K$40.7K$42.4K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$30,621Actual
2020$31,733Actual
2021$31,259Actual
2022$33,925Actual
2023$37,033Actual
2024$44,094Actual
2025$39,012Actual
2026(current)$40,658Estimated
2027$42,374Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Moline metropolitan area, the median sterile processing technician salary grew 27.4% from $30,621 (2019) to $39,012 (2025). At a 4.22% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $42,374 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,753 (38.38%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Moline 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)$31,488$33,888
3-5 years (Mid Career)$33,888$40,658
5+ years (Experienced)$40,658$49,313
10+ years (Top Earner)$49,313$56,342

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 Moline

Analyzing the job market context reveals a modest pool of 10 employed sterile processing technicians in Moline, suggesting limited local competition for open roles. The cost-of-living index in the area stands at 97.1, indicating that while salaries may be lower than the national average, they can still provide reasonable purchasing power given local economic conditions. Top employers such as hospital sterile processing departments and specialty surgical centers tend to offer better compensation packages, particularly for technicians who hold multiple certifications like CRCST and CIS, or those who take on supervisory roles. Factors influencing the disparity in salaries involve shift differentials and specialized credential stacks; focusing on earning advanced certifications can significantly enhance pay potential. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for current and aspiring sterile processing technicians to maximize their income in Moline's market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do sterile processing technicians make in Moline, IL in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median sterile processing technician salary in Moline is $40,658/year ($19.55/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 4.22% annual growth). Salaries range from $31,488 at entry level (10th percentile) to $56,342 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Moline at 14.8% below 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 Moline, IL a good place to work as a sterile processing technician?

Moline sterile processing technician salaries are 14.8% below the national average and 5.6% below the Illinois state average. The metro area employs approximately 10 sterile processing technicians. With a cost-of-living index of 97.1, your salary stretches further here than in higher-cost metros. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can sterile processing technicians make $100K in Moline?

The median sterile processing technician salary in Moline is $40,658, and the 90th percentile earns $56,342. 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 Moline?

After adjusting for Moline's cost-of-living index of 97.1 (where 100 equals the national average), the $40,658 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $41,872 in an average-cost city. This means your dollar goes 3.0% further in Moline compared to the national average, making it an attractive location for sterile processing technicians seeking strong real wages.

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

Sterile Processing Technicians in Moline earn a median hourly rate of $19.55, which translates to approximately $40,658/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $15.14 for entry-level positions to $27.09 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 $39,012 for sterile processing techniciansin the Moline 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 Moline 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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