Hire a Sterile Processing Technician in Santa Maria, CA

A delayed first case costs more than a wage gap. Pay someone who builds trays right from this metro's upper quarter. In Santa Maria, the May 2025 median is about $51.0K, 17% under the California 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	CA	U.S.
25th	$46,400	$49,650	$39,800
Median	$51,010	$61,370	$47,700
75th	$61,970	$77,660	$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

4.9

Metro employment

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

San Luis Obispo, CA · 26 miles
Bakersfield, CA · 85 miles
Oxnard, CA · 87 miles
Visalia, CA · 115 miles

Medical Equipment Preparers hiring pages

Get the local report

Questions

What do sterile processing technicians earn in Santa Maria, CA?

In Santa Maria, the May 2025 median for sterile processing technicians is about $51.0K, 7% over the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $46.4K to $62.0K.

Who hires sterile processing technicians in Santa Maria?

Hospitals and surgery centers hire sterile processing technicians in Santa Maria. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Sansum Clinic, 120 Spalding Partners, Aesthetic Center For Plastic Surgery.

Do I need certification for sterile processing in California?

A few states require it. Check the California rule before you start in Santa Maria.

What should a surgery center in Santa Maria weigh when hiring?

Ask about tray types and certification. Santa Maria has roughly a fifth fewer of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 17% under the California median.