Sterile Processing Tech Salary

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Kansas: $40,288 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Kansas's 22 metropolitan areas, the average median sterile processing technician pay sits at $40,288/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-9093. Because Kansas sits at BEA RPP 90.9 (9% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $44,321 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Kansas City ($44,624), Overland Park ($40,613), Lawrence ($40,407).

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Kansas - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Kansas sterile processing technician salary overview (2026)
$40,288
Avg Median Salary
$19.37
Avg Hourly Rate
398
Metro Employed
22
Cities

In Kansas, the average median salary for sterile processing technicians in 2026 is projected to be $40,288, which signifies a 15.6% decrease compared to the national median of $47,724. This wage gap reflects differences in cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and local market conditions. Kansas City offers the highest pay at $46,507, while Wichita presents the lowest at $37,950, highlighting a significant difference of $8,557. Factors influencing this disparity may include the concentration of healthcare facilities and the local economy's strength. Kansas has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that affect job responsibilities and training. The projected annual growth rate for this profession in the state is 4.22%, indicating a steady demand for sterile processing technicians. Employment opportunities are distributed across the state, with Overland Park ($42,327), Lawrence ($42,112), Topeka ($42,048), and Manhattan ($41,878) closely following Kansas City in salary offerings. The overall job market outlook suggests favorable conditions for job seekers in this field, driven by ongoing healthcare needs and technological advancements in surgical instrumentation.

Kansas Sterile Processing Technician Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$32,369
avg across 22 cities
Median
$40,288
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$57,080
avg across 22 cities

Overall salary range in Kansas: $29,944 (lowest entry-level) to $68,423 (highest top earner)

Kansas vs National Average

Kansas
$40,288
National Median
$47,724

Kansas sterile processing technicians earn 15.58% less than the national median ($-7,436/year difference).

Kansas Sterile Processing Technician Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Kansas sterile processing technician salary percentiles: 10th percentile $32,369, 25th $35,323, Median $40,288, 75th $48,878, 90th $57,080. US national median is $47,724.$16.0K$32.0K$47.9K$63.9K$32.4K10thEntry Level$35.3K25thEarly Career$40.3KMedianMid Career$48.9K75thExperienced$57.1K90thTop EarnerUS Median $47.7K

Sterile Processing Technician salaries in Kansas range from $32,369 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $57,080 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $40,288. The Kansas median is $7,436 below the US national median of $47,724. The average hourly rate is $19.37/hr. Approximately 398 sterile processing technicians are employed across 22 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$31,440

2025 BLS Actual

$38,657

2026 Current Est.

$40,288

2019–2027 Growth

+33.5%

Salary Trajectory for Sterile Processing Technicians in Kansas (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 Kansas. Baseline $31,440 in 2025, projected to $41,988 by 2027.$29.3K$33.0K$36.7K$40.4K$44.1K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$31.4K$33.1K$35.1K$35.1K$36.4K$37.6K$38.7K$40.3K$42.0K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$31,440Actual
2020$33,080Actual
2021$35,140Actual
2022$35,080Actual
2023$36,433Actual
2024$37,552Actual
2025$38,657Actual
2026(current)$40,288Estimated
2027$41,988Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kansas metropolitan area, the median sterile processing technician salary grew 23.0% from $31,440 (2019) to $38,657 (2025). At a 4.22% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $41,988 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,548 (33.55%) from 2019.

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

#1
Kansas City
25 employed · $22.36/hr
$46,507
+15.44% vs avg
#2
Overland Park
29 employed · $20.35/hr
$42,327
+5.06% vs avg
#3
Lawrence
22 employed · $20.25/hr
$42,112
+4.53% vs avg
#4
Topeka
21 employed · $20.22/hr
$42,048
+4.37% vs avg
#5
Manhattan
14 employed · $20.14/hr
$41,878
+3.95% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Kansas

CityMedian Salary
Wichita$37,950
Emporia$38,448
Gardner$38,620
Liberal$38,842
Hays$38,993

Best Value Cities for Sterile Processing Technicians in Kansas

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

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Kansas City$46,50790.9$51,163
Overland Park$42,32790.9$46,564
Lawrence$42,11290.9$46,328
Topeka$42,04890.9$46,257
Manhattan$41,87890.9$46,070

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

Salary by Experience Level in Kansas

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$32,369
Mid Career (3-7 years)$40,288
Experienced (7+ years)$57,080

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

All 22 Cities in Kansas

#CityMedian Salary
1Kansas City$46,507
2Overland Park$42,327
3Lawrence$42,112
4Topeka$42,048
5Manhattan$41,878
6Olathe$41,788
7Lenexa$41,687
8Garden City$41,274
9Derby$41,068
10Hutchinson$40,741
11Leavenworth$40,728
12Shawnee$40,598
13Salina$40,299
14Leawood$40,076
15Dodge City$39,400
16Junction City$39,274
17Prairie Village$39,109
18Hays$38,993
19Liberal$38,842
20Gardner$38,620
21Emporia$38,448
22Wichita$37,950

More Kansas Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore sterile processing technician hourly pay in Kansas 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 Kansas in 2026?

The average median sterile processing technician salary in Kansas is $40,288/year across 22 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $37,950 in Wichita to $46,507 in Kansas City. This makes Kansas 15.58% below the national median of $47,724. The state employs approximately 398 sterile processing technicians.

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

Kansas City offers the highest sterile processing technician salary in Kansas at $46,507/year ($22.36/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Kansas City ($46,507), Overland Park ($42,327), Lawrence ($42,112). 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 Kansas sterile processing technician pay compare to the national average?

Kansas's average sterile processing technician salary of $40,288 is 15.58% below the national median of $47,724 in 2026. The state employs approximately 398 sterile processing technicians across 22 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 Kansas?

Entry-level sterile processing technicians (10th percentile) in Kansas earn approximately $32,369/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $29,944 in lower-paying areas to $33,610 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 Kansas?

Kansas employs approximately 398 sterile processing technicians across 22 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 Kansas city offers the best value for sterile processing technicians?

When adjusted for cost of living, Kansas City offers the highest purchasing power for sterile processing technicians in Kansas, with an adjusted salary of $51,163 (nominal: $46,507, CoL index: 90.9). This means your dollar goes 10% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
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 Kansas. State averages are employment-weighted across 22 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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