Sterile Processing Tech Salary

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Maine: $45,516 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Maine's 10 metropolitan areas, the average median sterile processing technician pay sits at $45,516/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-9093. Because Maine sits at BEA RPP 99.6 (0% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $45,699 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Bangor ($44,352), Portland ($43,834), South Portland ($43,646).

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Maine - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Maine sterile processing technician salary overview (2026)
$45,516
Avg Median Salary
$21.88
Avg Hourly Rate
352
Metro Employed
10
Cities

In Maine, sterile processing technicians earn an average median salary of $45,516 in 2026, which is 4.6% lower than the national median of $47,724. The salary landscape varies significantly across the state, with Bangor offering the highest pay at $46,224, while Brunswick has the lowest at $42,227. This $3,997 salary difference can be attributed to factors such as cost of living variations, local demand for healthcare services, and the presence of medical facilities that require sterile processing technicians. Maine has specific state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that can influence employment opportunities and salaries in this field. The demand for sterile processing technicians in Maine is driven by the ongoing expansion of healthcare services and a steady population growth that necessitates trained professionals. The total number of employed sterile processing technicians in the state is projected at 352, showing promising growth potential with an annual compound growth rate of 4.22%. Major cities like Portland, South Portland, Lewiston, and Scarborough also reflect competitive salaries, with figures ranging from $45,684 in Portland to $43,537 in Scarborough. Overall, the job market for sterile processing technicians in Maine shows positive growth and opportunities for aspiring professionals in the coming years.

Maine Sterile Processing Technician Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$38,716
avg across 10 cities
Median
$45,516
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$58,024
avg across 10 cities

Overall salary range in Maine: $33,096 (lowest entry-level) to $65,506 (highest top earner)

Maine vs National Average

Maine
$45,516
National Median
$47,724

Maine sterile processing technicians earn 4.63% less than the national median ($-2,208/year difference).

Maine Sterile Processing Technician Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Maine sterile processing technician salary percentiles: 10th percentile $38,716, 25th $39,027, Median $45,516, 75th $48,529, 90th $58,024. US national median is $47,724.$16.2K$32.5K$48.7K$65.0K$38.7K10thEntry Level$39.0K25thEarly Career$45.5KMedianMid Career$48.5K75thExperienced$58.0K90thTop EarnerUS Median $47.7K

Sterile Processing Technician salaries in Maine range from $38,716 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $58,024 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $45,516. The Maine median is $2,208 below the US national median of $47,724. The average hourly rate is $21.88/hr. Approximately 352 sterile processing technicians are employed across 10 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$33,820

2025 BLS Actual

$43,673

2026 Current Est.

$45,516

2019–2027 Growth

+40.3%

Salary Trajectory for Sterile Processing Technicians in Maine (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 Maine. Baseline $33,820 in 2025, projected to $47,437 by 2027.$31.0K$35.8K$40.6K$45.4K$50.2K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$33.8K$33.7K$37.3K$38.0K$45.6K$45.2K$43.7K$45.5K$47.4K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$33,820Actual
2020$33,720Actual
2021$37,310Actual
2022$37,978Actual
2023$45,640Actual
2024$45,237Actual
2025$43,673Actual
2026(current)$45,516Estimated
2027$47,437Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Maine metropolitan area, the median sterile processing technician salary grew 29.1% from $33,820 (2019) to $43,673 (2025). At a 4.22% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $47,437 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,617 (40.26%) from 2019.

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

#1
Bangor
60 employed · $22.22/hr
$46,224
+1.56% vs avg
#2
Portland
250 employed · $21.96/hr
$45,684
+0.37% vs avg
#3
South Portland
4 employed · $21.87/hr
$45,488
-0.06% vs avg
#4
Lewiston
7 employed · $21.62/hr
$44,951
-1.24% vs avg
#5
Scarborough
5 employed · $20.93/hr
$43,537
-4.35% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Maine

CityMedian Salary
Brunswick$42,227
Sanford$42,628
Auburn$42,881
Augusta$43,029
Biddeford$43,173

Best Value Cities for Sterile Processing Technicians in Maine

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

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Bangor$46,22496.508$47,897
South Portland$45,48899.6$45,671
Lewiston$44,95199.6$45,132
Portland$45,684101.858$44,851
Scarborough$43,53799.6$43,712

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

Salary by Experience Level in Maine

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$38,716
Mid Career (3-7 years)$45,516
Experienced (7+ years)$58,024

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

All 10 Cities in Maine

#CityMedian Salary
1Bangor$46,224
2Portland$45,684
3South Portland$45,488
4Lewiston$44,951
5Scarborough$43,537
6Biddeford$43,173
7Augusta$43,029
8Auburn$42,881
9Sanford$42,628
10Brunswick$42,227

More Maine Salary Data

Hourly Rates

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

The average median sterile processing technician salary in Maine is $45,516/year across 10 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $42,227 in Brunswick to $46,224 in Bangor. This makes Maine 4.63% below the national median of $47,724. The state employs approximately 352 sterile processing technicians.

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

Bangor offers the highest sterile processing technician salary in Maine at $46,224/year ($22.22/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Bangor ($46,224), Portland ($45,684), South Portland ($45,488). 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 Maine sterile processing technician pay compare to the national average?

Maine's average sterile processing technician salary of $45,516 is 4.63% below the national median of $47,724 in 2026. The state employs approximately 352 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 Maine?

Entry-level sterile processing technicians (10th percentile) in Maine earn approximately $38,716/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $33,096 in lower-paying areas to $39,650 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 Maine?

Maine employs approximately 352 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 Maine city offers the best value for sterile processing technicians?

When adjusted for cost of living, Bangor offers the highest purchasing power for sterile processing technicians in Maine, with an adjusted salary of $47,897 (nominal: $46,224, CoL index: 96.508). This means your dollar goes 4% 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 Maine. 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, 6-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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