Sterile Processing Tech Salary

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Vermont: $48,860 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Vermont's 9 metropolitan areas, the average median sterile processing technician pay sits at $48,860/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-9093. Because Vermont sits at BEA RPP 103.5 (4% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $47,208 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: South Burlington ($49,102), Burlington ($48,854), Bennington ($43,599).

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Vermont - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Vermont sterile processing technician salary overview (2026)
$48,860
Avg Median Salary
$23.49
Avg Hourly Rate
110
Metro Employed
9
Cities

In Vermont, the average median salary for sterile processing technicians is projected to be $48,860 in 2026, which is slightly above the national median of $47,724, reflecting a positive difference of 2.4%. The salary range varies significantly across the state. South Burlington offers the highest salary at $51,174, while Montpelier presents the lowest at $43,673, creating a salary gap of $7,501. This disparity can be attributed to differences in the cost of living, local demand for healthcare services, and the concentration of medical facilities in urban areas like South Burlington. Vermont has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that shape the role of sterile processing technicians, influencing potential salaries and job security. The projected job market growth for this field is solid, with an annual compound growth rate of 4.22%, indicating a steady demand for professionals in this area as healthcare needs continue to evolve. The top five cities for salaries are South Burlington, Burlington at $50,916, Bennington at $45,439, Brattleboro at $44,925, and Essex Junction at $44,829. This data suggests a favorable outlook for those considering a career as a sterile processing technician in Vermont.

Vermont Sterile Processing Technician Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$40,811
avg across 9 cities
Median
$48,860
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$69,436
avg across 9 cities

Overall salary range in Vermont: $34,955 (lowest entry-level) to $73,368 (highest top earner)

Vermont vs National Average

Vermont
$48,860
National Median
$47,724

Vermont sterile processing technicians earn 2.38% more than the national median (+$1,136/year difference).

Vermont Sterile Processing Technician Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Vermont sterile processing technician salary percentiles: 10th percentile $40,811, 25th $44,821, Median $48,860, 75th $66,404, 90th $69,436. US national median is $47,724.$19.4K$38.9K$58.3K$77.8K$40.8K10thEntry Level$44.8K25thEarly Career$48.9KMedianMid Career$66.4K75thExperienced$69.4K90thTop EarnerUS Median $47.7K

Sterile Processing Technician salaries in Vermont range from $40,811 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $69,436 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $48,860. The Vermont median is $1,136 above the US national median of $47,724. The average hourly rate is $23.49/hr. Approximately 110 sterile processing technicians are employed across 9 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$36,798

2025 BLS Actual

$46,882

2026 Current Est.

$48,860

2019–2027 Growth

+38.4%

Salary Trajectory for Sterile Processing Technicians in Vermont (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 Vermont. Baseline $36,798 in 2025, projected to $50,922 by 2027.$34.0K$38.9K$43.9K$48.8K$53.7K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$36.8K$38.1K$37.6K$40.8K$40.4K$47.8K$46.9K$48.9K$50.9K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$36,798Actual
2020$38,134Actual
2021$37,564Actual
2022$40,768Actual
2023$40,370Actual
2024$47,755Actual
2025$46,882Actual
2026(current)$48,860Estimated
2027$50,922Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Vermont metropolitan area, the median sterile processing technician salary grew 27.4% from $36,798 (2019) to $46,882 (2025). At a 4.22% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $50,922 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,124 (38.38%) from 2019.

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

#1
South Burlington
4 employed · $24.61/hr
$51,174
+4.74% vs avg
#2
Burlington
70 employed · $24.47/hr
$50,916
+4.21% vs avg
#3
Bennington
6 employed · $21.84/hr
$45,439
-7.00% vs avg
#4
Brattleboro
6 employed · $21.59/hr
$44,925
-8.05% vs avg
#5
Essex Junction
6 employed · $21.55/hr
$44,829
-8.25% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Vermont

CityMedian Salary
Montpelier$43,673
Colchester$43,894
Rutland$43,944
Barre$44,769
Essex Junction$44,829

Best Value Cities for Sterile Processing Technicians in Vermont

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

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Burlington$50,916100.949$50,437
South Burlington$51,174103.5$49,443
Bennington$45,439103.5$43,902
Brattleboro$44,925103.5$43,406
Essex Junction$44,829103.5$43,313

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

Salary by Experience Level in Vermont

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$40,811
Mid Career (3-7 years)$48,860
Experienced (7+ years)$69,436

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

All 9 Cities in Vermont

#CityMedian Salary
1South Burlington$51,174
2Burlington$50,916
3Bennington$45,439
4Brattleboro$44,925
5Essex Junction$44,829
6Barre$44,769
7Rutland$43,944
8Colchester$43,894
9Montpelier$43,673

More Vermont Salary Data

Hourly Rates

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

The average median sterile processing technician salary in Vermont is $48,860/year across 9 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $43,673 in Montpelier to $51,174 in South Burlington. This makes Vermont one of the higher-paying states, at 2.38% above the national median of $47,724. The state employs approximately 110 sterile processing technicians.

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

South Burlington offers the highest sterile processing technician salary in Vermont at $51,174/year ($24.61/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are South Burlington ($51,174), Burlington ($50,916), Bennington ($45,439). 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 Vermont sterile processing technician pay compare to the national average?

Vermont's average sterile processing technician salary of $48,860 is 2.38% above the national median of $47,724 in 2026. The state employs approximately 110 sterile processing technicians across 9 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 Vermont?

Entry-level sterile processing technicians (10th percentile) in Vermont earn approximately $40,811/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $34,955 in lower-paying areas to $43,452 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 Vermont?

Vermont employs approximately 110 sterile processing technicians across 9 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 Vermont city offers the best value for sterile processing technicians?

When adjusted for cost of living, Burlington offers the highest purchasing power for sterile processing technicians in Vermont, with an adjusted salary of $50,437 (nominal: $50,916, CoL index: 100.949). This means your dollar goes 1% 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 Vermont. State averages are employment-weighted across 9 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, 3-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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