Sterile Processing Technician
Clean, sterilize, and prepare surgical instruments
About the profession
Sterile processing technicians clean, sterilize, and pack surgical instruments for reuse — a behind-the-scenes role critical to surgical safety.
How to Get Started
Take a personality test to see if Sterile Processing Technician fits your profile
Career Match Test →Explore the Career Path section to see progression from junior to senior
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Jump to Learning Path →Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
SPD Trainee → Sterile Processing Tech → Senior SPD Tech → SPD Manager
Where are you on this career path?
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Salary Growth
4
Levels
55K
Top Salary
8+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
🚀
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Timeline: 0-2 | Entry Level Base: $36,000 - $41,000/year With equity/bonuses: $39,600 - $49,200 Top markets (SF/NYC): $41,000 - $49,000 Execute core tasks using Sterilization…
Day in Life
Junior vs Senior — daily schedule breakdown
9am — Review priorities and respond to urgent items 10am — Team standup and progress check 11am — Deep work using Sterilization methods 1pm — Cross-functional meeting with…
Income Dynamics
Conservative and aggressive scenarios for 10–15 years
Year 1: Entry level $25,200 - $32,400 Year 2-3: Junior level $36,000 - $46,050 Year 4-6: Mid level $46,050 - $46,450 Year 7-10: Senior level $46,450 - $52,150 Year 10+:…
Is this for me?
15 questions — answer honestly
You find the craft of a Sterile Processing Technician genuinely interesting, not just a paycheck You enjoy working with Sterilization methods and Instrument identification You…
💰 Salary Range
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