Short answer: sterile processing technicians in the New York City area earn a median of about $28.30 an hour, or about $58,900 a year, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics figures. Most earn between about $20 and $35 an hour. That is more than in most other parts of New York State. Here is what the numbers look like, and what moves your pay up.
Pay in the NYC area
Government data groups sterile processing techs under “medical equipment preparers”. For the New York-Newark-Jersey City area, which includes the five boroughs, Westchester, Long Island and northern New Jersey, the 2025 BLS wage data shows:
| Hourly | Yearly | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting pay (lowest 10%) | $19.87 | $41,340 |
| Median (middle) | $28.30 | $58,870 |
| Top pay (highest 10%) | $34.81 | $72,400 |
PayScale, which collects pay reported by workers, gives a similar picture for New York City: an average of $29.08 an hour, with most between $25 and $37 (April 2026, a small sample).
How NYC compares with the rest of New York
Pay is highest downstate. Median hourly pay by area, from the same BLS data:
| Area | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| New York City area (incl. Westchester) | $28.30 | $58,870 |
| New York State overall | $27.56 | $57,320 |
| Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $23.70 | $49,290 |
| Syracuse | $23.00 | $47,830 |
| Buffalo | $22.62 | $47,050 |
| Albany | $22.12 | $46,010 |
| Rochester | $21.92 | $45,590 |
The national median for the same job is lower still, about $21.77 an hour in the BLS national estimates.
What raises your pay
- Getting certified. New York requires certification to work in hospital sterile processing, and certified techs are hired faster. See why New York requires it.
- Experience. Pay usually climbs as you move from entry level to experienced tech, and the top 10% in NYC earn about $35 an hour.
- Evening, night and weekend shifts. Many hospitals add a shift differential for off-hours work. Ask about it when you interview.
- Extra certifications. The CIS (instruments), CER (endoscopes) and CHL (leadership) can lead to specialist and lead roles.
- Per diem and contract work. Staffing assignments often pay more per hour in exchange for less fixed scheduling.
Current Charisma SPD openings
Our current sterile processing postings in New York pay $25 to $45 an hour, depending on experience and assignment, with full-time, part-time, per diem and temporary options. See open jobs and apply.
Not certified yet?
Our 12-week CRCST course in the Bronx costs $2,500 with books included, helps you with clinical placement toward the 400 hands-on hours, and runs on weekday or weekend schedules. Read how to become a sterile processing technician in New York, or go straight to the class dates.
Frequently asked questions
What does a new sterile processing tech make in NYC?
Entry-level pay in the NYC area starts around $20 an hour (the lowest 10% in BLS data). Our own entry-level postings start at $25.
Is sterile processing a good-paying job without a degree?
For many people, yes. It needs no college degree, training takes about three months, and the NYC median is about $58,900 a year.
Where do these numbers come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 wage data, via O*NET) and PayScale (April 2026). Pay at any one employer can be higher or lower.
Questions? Call us at (914) 201-3382.
