Sterile Processing Tech Salary

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Massachusetts: $56,606 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Massachusetts's 58 metropolitan areas, the average median sterile processing technician pay sits at $56,606/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-9093. Because Massachusetts sits at BEA RPP 108.5 (9% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $52,171 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Barnstable Town ($58,714), Boston ($58,406), Newton ($57,936).

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Massachusetts - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Massachusetts sterile processing technician salary overview (2026)
$56,606
Avg Median Salary
$27.21
Avg Hourly Rate
2,337
Metro Employed
58
Cities

As a sterile processing technician in Massachusetts, you can expect to earn an average median salary of $56,606 in 2026, which is significantly higher than the national median of $47,724, resulting in a salary increase of 18.6% compared to the national average. The highest paying city for this role is Barnstable Town, where the average salary reaches $61,192, while Springfield offers the lowest at $46,474, highlighting a salary gap of $14,718. This difference is often driven by the cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and local healthcare facility funding. In Massachusetts, state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws can enhance your credentials and professional opportunities. The demand for sterile processing technicians continues to grow, projected at an annual growth rate of 4.22% as reported from the 2025 BLS data. The employment landscape includes a total of 2,337 technicians, with top cities such as Boston ($60,871), Newton ($60,381), Cambridge ($59,417), and Worcester ($57,790) providing strong local job markets. Overall, pursuing a career in this field within Massachusetts reflects solid salary potential and a positive job market outlook.

Massachusetts Sterile Processing Technician Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$44,156
avg across 58 cities
Median
$56,606
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$74,481
avg across 58 cities

Overall salary range in Massachusetts: $35,623 (lowest entry-level) to $89,188 (highest top earner)

Massachusetts vs National Average

Massachusetts
$56,606
National Median
$47,724

Massachusetts sterile processing technicians earn 18.61% more than the national median (+$8,882/year difference).

Massachusetts Sterile Processing Technician Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Massachusetts sterile processing technician salary percentiles: 10th percentile $44,156, 25th $47,028, Median $56,606, 75th $62,440, 90th $74,481. US national median is $47,724.$20.9K$41.7K$62.6K$83.4K$44.2K10thEntry Level$47.0K25thEarly Career$56.6KMedianMid Career$62.4K75thExperienced$74.5K90thTop EarnerUS Median $47.7K

Sterile Processing Technician salaries in Massachusetts range from $44,156 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $74,481 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $56,606. The Massachusetts median is $8,882 above the US national median of $47,724. The average hourly rate is $27.21/hr. Approximately 2,337 sterile processing technicians are employed across 58 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$48,529

2025 BLS Actual

$54,314

2026 Current Est.

$56,606

2019–2027 Growth

+21.6%

Salary Trajectory for Sterile Processing Technicians in Massachusetts (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 Massachusetts. Baseline $48,529 in 2025, projected to $58,994 by 2027.$45.8K$49.7K$53.5K$57.3K$61.2K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$48.5K$50.8K$48.0K$49.4K$50.6K$57.0K$54.3K$56.6K$59.0K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$48,529Actual
2020$50,843Actual
2021$48,007Actual
2022$49,411Actual
2023$50,593Actual
2024$57,046Actual
2025$54,314Actual
2026(current)$56,606Estimated
2027$58,994Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Massachusetts metropolitan area, the median sterile processing technician salary grew 11.9% from $48,529 (2019) to $54,314 (2025). At a 4.22% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,994 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,465 (21.56%) from 2019.

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

#1
Barnstable Town
40 employed · $29.41/hr
$61,192
+8.10% vs avg
#2
Boston
1,310 employed · $29.26/hr
$60,871
+7.53% vs avg
#3
Newton
16 employed · $29.03/hr
$60,381
+6.67% vs avg
#4
Cambridge
22 employed · $28.57/hr
$59,417
+4.97% vs avg
#5
Worcester
200 employed · $27.79/hr
$57,790
+2.09% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Massachusetts

CityMedian Salary
Springfield$46,474
Andover$47,067
Leominster$47,182
Wellesley$47,225
Chelmsford$47,252

Best Value Cities for Sterile Processing Technicians in Massachusetts

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

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Barnstable Town$61,19298.351$62,218
Worcester$57,790102.523$56,368
Boston$60,871108.266$56,224
Newton$60,381108.5$55,651
Cambridge$59,417108.5$54,762

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

Salary by Experience Level in Massachusetts

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$44,156
Mid Career (3-7 years)$56,606
Experienced (7+ years)$74,481

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

All 58 Cities in Massachusetts

#CityMedian Salary
1Barnstable Town$61,192
2Boston$60,871
3Newton$60,381
4Cambridge$59,417
5Worcester$57,790
6Lynn$51,056
7Somerville$50,388
8Revere$50,309
9Brockton$50,137
10New Bedford$50,081
11Plymouth$50,050
12Malden$49,868
13Haverhill$49,860
14Lowell$49,847
15Framingham$49,824
16Peabody$49,758
17Weymouth$49,609
18Chicopee$49,459
19Randolph$49,404
20Quincy$49,317
21Amherst$49,259
22Chelsea$49,254
23Medford$49,120
24Fall River$49,073
25Marlborough$49,073
26Watertown$49,066
27Pittsfield$49,030
28Fitchburg$49,027
29Methuen$49,008
30Taunton$48,987
31Arlington$48,969
32Needham$48,842
33Westfield$48,819
34Everett$48,810
35Holyoke$48,560
36Lawrence$48,479
37Beverly$48,479
38Dartmouth$48,421
39Waltham$48,373
40Barnstable$48,321
41Brookline$48,214
42Billerica$48,139
43Braintree$47,978
44Salem$47,896
45Natick$47,865
46Dracut$47,615
47Lexington$47,584
48Stoughton$47,584
49Northampton$47,581
50Shrewsbury$47,522
51Franklin$47,395
52Attleboro$47,357
53Woburn$47,295
54Chelmsford$47,252
55Wellesley$47,225
56Leominster$47,182
57Andover$47,067
58Springfield$46,474

More Massachusetts Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore sterile processing technician hourly pay in Massachusetts cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new sterile processing technicians.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced sterile processing technicians.

Compare Cities in Massachusetts

View all comparisons →

Explore More Sterile Processing Technician Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The average median sterile processing technician salary in Massachusetts is $56,606/year across 58 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $46,474 in Springfield to $61,192 in Barnstable Town. This makes Massachusetts one of the higher-paying states, at 18.61% above the national median of $47,724. The state employs approximately 2,337 sterile processing technicians.

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

Barnstable Town offers the highest sterile processing technician salary in Massachusetts at $61,192/year ($29.41/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Barnstable Town ($61,192), Boston ($60,871), Newton ($60,381). 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 Massachusetts sterile processing technician pay compare to the national average?

Massachusetts's average sterile processing technician salary of $56,606 is 18.61% above the national median of $47,724 in 2026. The state employs approximately 2,337 sterile processing technicians across 58 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 Massachusetts?

Entry-level sterile processing technicians (10th percentile) in Massachusetts earn approximately $44,156/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $35,623 in lower-paying areas to $47,948 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 Massachusetts?

Massachusetts employs approximately 2,337 sterile processing technicians across 58 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. Job availability varies by metro area, with larger cities offering more opportunities. Demand continues to grow as the sterile processing field expands and the population ages.

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

When adjusted for cost of living, Barnstable Town offers the highest purchasing power for sterile processing technicians in Massachusetts, with an adjusted salary of $62,218 (nominal: $61,192, CoL index: 98.351). This means your dollar goes 2% 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 Massachusetts. State averages are employment-weighted across 58 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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