Hire a Sterile Processing Technician in Chicago, IL

The hospital is hiring for the same trays you are. A certified tech who can run a shift belongs at this metro's upper quarter. In Chicago, the May 2025 median is about $48.6K, within 3 percent of the Illinois median.

What to offer

A surgery center that copies a national midpoint will lose a certified tech to the hospital. Use this metro's median for someone still learning trays, and the 75th for someone who can run a shift.

Percentile	Metro	IL	U.S.
25th	$46,850	$44,370	$39,800
Median	$48,630	$48,050	$47,700
75th	$57,370	$56,780	$58,570

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Wages are the Medical Equipment Preparers series, SOC 31-9093.

How hard this is to fill

Hiring difficulty

4.1

Metro employment

2,140

National growth, 2025 to 2035

10.8%

National openings a year

10.7 thousand

This is the same score as the free check.

For one manager

Name the case volume, the shift, and the certification you need. Ask how many tray types the person builds without help.

License and training

Most states do not license this work, but a few, including New York and New Jersey, require certification for new hires. Employers often want CRCST from HSPA or CSPDT from CBSPD. Confirm the rule in your state.

Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, medical equipment preparers

Nearby metros

Kenosha, WI · 53 miles
South Bend, IN · 74 miles
Rockford, IL · 77 miles
Milwaukee, WI · 86 miles

Medical Equipment Preparers hiring pages

Get the local report

Questions

What do sterile processing technicians earn in Chicago, IL?

In Chicago, the May 2025 median for sterile processing technicians is about $48.6K, within 3 percent of the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $46.9K to $57.4K.

Who hires sterile processing technicians in Chicago?

Hospitals and surgery centers hire sterile processing technicians in Chicago. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Advocate Health and Hospitals, Hines VA Hospital.

Do I need certification for sterile processing in Illinois?

A few states require it. Check the Illinois rule before you start in Chicago.

What should a surgery center in Chicago weigh when hiring?

Ask about tray types and certification. Chicago has slightly fewer of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is within 3 percent of the Illinois median.