Sterile Processing Tech Salary

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in New York: $55,906 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across New York's 39 metropolitan areas, the average median sterile processing technician pay sits at $55,906/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-9093. Because New York sits at BEA RPP 115.9 (16% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $48,236 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: New York ($56,515), Poughkeepsie ($48,047), Kiryas Joel ($47,318).

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in New York - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
New York sterile processing technician salary overview (2026)
$55,906
Avg Median Salary
$26.88
Avg Hourly Rate
6,984
Metro Employed
39
Cities

In New York, the average median salary for sterile processing technicians in 2026 is projected to be $55,906, which is 17.1% higher than the national median of $47,724. The disparity in income between various cities in New York is significant, with the highest salary in New York City at $58,900, while Cortland has the lowest at $43,115. This gap of $15,785 can be attributed to factors such as the cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and the concentration of medical facilities in metropolitan areas. New York has specific state licensing requirements for sterile processing technicians, which may help to elevate salary averages compared to other states. The scope of practice laws also ensure that technicians are equipped to handle critical infection control responsibilities, further driving demand for their services. With a projected annual growth rate of 4.22%, the job market for these technicians is anticipated to remain stable, offering approximately 6,984 positions statewide. Top projected salaries for 2026 in other cities include Poughkeepsie at $50,075, Kiryas Joel at $49,315, Newburgh at $48,243, and Yonkers at $48,030. This information can aid aspiring technicians in making informed career decisions within the state.

New York Sterile Processing Technician Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$40,341
avg across 39 cities
Median
$55,906
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$69,442
avg across 39 cities

Overall salary range in New York: $33,913 (lowest entry-level) to $74,446 (highest top earner)

New York vs National Average

New York
$55,906
National Median
$47,724

New York sterile processing technicians earn 17.14% more than the national median (+$8,182/year difference).

New York Sterile Processing Technician Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing New York sterile processing technician salary percentiles: 10th percentile $40,341, 25th $47,462, Median $55,906, 75th $60,180, 90th $69,442. US national median is $47,724.$19.4K$38.9K$58.3K$77.8K$40.3K10thEntry Level$47.5K25thEarly Career$55.9KMedianMid Career$60.2K75thExperienced$69.4K90thTop EarnerUS Median $47.7K

Sterile Processing Technician salaries in New York range from $40,341 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $69,442 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $55,906. The New York median is $8,182 above the US national median of $47,724. The average hourly rate is $26.88/hr. Approximately 6,984 sterile processing technicians are employed across 39 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$43,538

2025 BLS Actual

$53,642

2026 Current Est.

$55,906

2019–2027 Growth

+33.8%

Salary Trajectory for Sterile Processing Technicians in New York (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 New York. Baseline $43,538 in 2025, projected to $58,265 by 2027.$40.6K$45.7K$50.9K$56.1K$61.2K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$43.5K$45.0K$45.4K$48.0K$52.4K$54.2K$53.6K$55.9K$58.3K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$43,538Actual
2020$45,026Actual
2021$45,395Actual
2022$47,959Actual
2023$52,423Actual
2024$54,200Actual
2025$53,642Actual
2026(current)$55,906Estimated
2027$58,265Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the New York metropolitan area, the median sterile processing technician salary grew 23.2% from $43,538 (2019) to $53,642 (2025). At a 4.22% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,265 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,727 (33.83%) from 2019.

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

#1
New York
5,270 employed · $28.32/hr
$58,900
+5.36% vs avg
#2
Poughkeepsie
5 employed · $24.07/hr
$50,075
-10.43% vs avg
#3
Kiryas Joel
120 employed · $23.71/hr
$49,315
-11.79% vs avg
#4
Newburgh
6 employed · $23.19/hr
$48,243
-13.71% vs avg
#5
Yonkers
45 employed · $23.10/hr
$48,030
-14.09% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in New York

CityMedian Salary
Cortland$43,115
Plattsburgh$43,245
Oneonta$43,696
Amsterdam$43,802
Lackawanna$43,822

Best Value Cities for Sterile Processing Technicians in New York

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

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
New York$58,900112.563$52,326
Binghamton$46,57492.863$50,153
Syracuse$47,85595.742$49,983
Utica$45,62392.678$49,227
Buffalo$47,07495.844$49,115

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

Salary by Experience Level in New York

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$40,341
Mid Career (3-7 years)$55,906
Experienced (7+ years)$69,442

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

All 39 Cities in New York

#CityMedian Salary
1New York$58,900
2Poughkeepsie$50,075
3Kiryas Joel$49,315
4Newburgh$48,243
5Yonkers$48,030
6Syracuse$47,855
7Buffalo$47,074
8New Rochelle$47,040
9Troy$46,946
10Binghamton$46,574
11Mount Vernon$46,513
12Watertown$46,435
13Long Beach$46,155
14Ithaca$46,137
15Niagara Falls$46,130
16Albany$46,034
17Spring Valley$45,636
18Utica$45,623
19Rochester$45,613
20White Plains$45,575
21Jamestown$45,519
22Valley Stream$45,446
23Middletown$45,258
24Hempstead$45,208
25Rome$45,157
26Schenectady$45,035
27Saratoga Springs$44,986
28North Tonawanda$44,720
29Glens Falls$44,534
30Auburn$44,502
31Freeport$44,375
32Elmira$44,321
33Oswego$43,914
34Kingston$43,889
35Lackawanna$43,822
36Amsterdam$43,802
37Oneonta$43,696
38Plattsburgh$43,245
39Cortland$43,115

More New York Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore sterile processing technician hourly pay in New York cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new sterile processing technicians.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced sterile processing technicians.

Compare Cities in New York

View all comparisons →

Explore More Sterile Processing Technician Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do sterile processing technicians make in New York in 2026?

The average median sterile processing technician salary in New York is $55,906/year across 39 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $43,115 in Cortland to $58,900 in New York. This makes New York one of the higher-paying states, at 17.14% above the national median of $47,724. The state employs approximately 6,984 sterile processing technicians.

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

New York offers the highest sterile processing technician salary in New York at $58,900/year ($28.32/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are New York ($58,900), Poughkeepsie ($50,075), Kiryas Joel ($49,315). 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 New York sterile processing technician pay compare to the national average?

New York's average sterile processing technician salary of $55,906 is 17.14% above the national median of $47,724 in 2026. The state employs approximately 6,984 sterile processing technicians across 39 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 New York?

Entry-level sterile processing technicians (10th percentile) in New York earn approximately $40,341/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $33,913 in lower-paying areas to $41,361 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 New York?

New York employs approximately 6,984 sterile processing technicians across 39 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes New York one of the larger employers of sterile processing technicians nationally. Demand continues to grow as the sterile processing field expands and the population ages.

Which New York city offers the best value for sterile processing technicians?

When adjusted for cost of living, New York offers the highest purchasing power for sterile processing technicians in New York, with an adjusted salary of $52,326 (nominal: $58,900, CoL index: 112.563). This means your dollar goes 11% 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 New York. State averages are employment-weighted across 39 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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