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Sterile processing technician programs
111 colleges and career schools report sterile processing programs to IPEDS, with 1,964 completions in 2023-24.
Sterile Processing Programs by state
| State | Programs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 4 | $46,790 |
| California | 5 | $61,370 |
| Colorado | 4 | $47,700 |
| Florida | 15 | $45,890 |
| Illinois | 8 | $48,050 |
| Indiana | 1 | $45,210 |
| Kansas | 1 | $45,280 |
| Louisiana | 6 | $35,960 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | $58,580 |
| Michigan | 10 | $45,670 |
| Minnesota | 3 | $50,070 |
| Missouri | 1 | $43,480 |
| North Carolina | 3 | $45,130 |
| New Jersey | 3 | $50,280 |
| New Mexico | 1 | $36,720 |
| Nevada | 2 | $46,640 |
| New York | 2 | $57,320 |
| Ohio | 6 | $45,540 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $43,460 |
| Oregon | 1 | $48,890 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $45,820 |
| South Carolina | 2 | $42,510 |
| Tennessee | 4 | $46,990 |
| Texas | 6 | $46,970 |
| Utah | 1 | $47,980 |
| Virginia | 2 | $46,580 |
| Washington | 7 | $58,830 |
| Wisconsin | 6 | $47,570 |
| West Virginia | 2 | $44,830 |
Programs counts IPEDS schools. Median pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual.
Paying for sterile processing training
Sterile processing questions, answered from the data
How long is sterile processing training?
Among 14 certificate programs that report a length to IPEDS, the middle one takes 8 months; half take between 7 months and 9 months. Clock-hour programs run 650 to 985 hours (middle 742).
How much does a sterile processing program cost?
The middle whole-program tuition among 14 certificate programs reporting one to IPEDS for 2024-25 is $14,477; half cost between $12,175 and $17,592.
What do medical equipment preparers earn?
The national median annual wage for medical equipment preparers was $47,700 in May 2025 ($23 an hour), from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; the lowest-paid tenth earned under $36,410.