Sterile Processing Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this specialized training program develop the technical expertise needed to ensure surgical environments meet the highest standards of safety and hygiene. The curriculum equips learners with the skills to manage the full lifecycle of medical instruments, from initial decontamination to final sterilization and distribution, playing a critical role in patient safety and healthcare operations.
- Sterilization Techniques: Learn advanced methods such as autoclaving, chemical sterilization, and dry heat processing to eliminate all microbial life from surgical instruments and equipment.
- Infection Control Protocols: Master evidence-based practices to prevent the transmission of pathogens within healthcare settings, aligning with national and institutional safety standards.
- Decontamination Procedures: Understand the systematic processes for removing organic and inorganic contaminants from medical devices before sterilization, including proper handling and waste disposal.
- Surgical Instrumentation Processing: Gain hands-on experience in sorting, inspecting, assembling, and preparing surgical tools for use in operating rooms and specialty units.
- Distribution and Inventory Management: Develop skills in tracking and delivering sterile supplies efficiently, ensuring availability while maintaining accountability and compliance.
- Record-Keeping and Documentation: Learn to maintain accurate logs and digital records for sterilization cycles, equipment history, and quality assurance audits.
Sterile Processing Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Sterile Processing Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Sterile Processing Technology degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Surgical Technologists and Medical Equipment Preparers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 416,370 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
| Surgical Technologists 29-2055 | $62,830 | $43,290 - $90,700 | 113,890 | $30.21 |
| Medical Equipment Preparers 31-9093 | $46,490 | $35,400 - $67,070 | 72,760 | $22.35 |
Sterile Processing Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $53,363 in South Dakota to $93,890 in District of Columbia—a 76% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Arkansas, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 416,370 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Sterile Processing Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 91 institutions offering Sterile Processing Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Sterile Processing Technology is found at Herzing University, Madison (341 graduates), Contra Costa Medical Career College (CCMCC) (107 graduates), Philadelphia Technician Training (PTTI) (92 graduates), Fortis Institute (63 graduates), and Pima Medical Institute (PMI), Phoenix (50 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,964 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herzing University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
341 | Madison, Wisconsin | Private | herzing.edu |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College (CCMCC) |
Other Award
|
107 | Antioch, California | Private | ccmcc.edu |
| Philadelphia Technician Training (PTTI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
92 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | ptt.edu |
| Fortis Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
63 | Houston, Texas | Private | fortis.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
50 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | pmi.edu |
| Fortis College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
47 | Houston, Texas | Private | fortis.edu |
| Dorsey College |
Other Award
|
40 | Roseville, Michigan | Private | dorsey.edu |
| Dorsey College |
Other Award
|
39 | Madison Heights, Michigan | Private | dorsey.edu |
| Saint Paul College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
39 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Public | saintpaul.edu |
| Antilles School of Technical Careers |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
39 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | antillespr.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Residency
|
36 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| Glendale Career College (GCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
33 | Glendale, California | Private | success.edu |
| Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
33 | New York, New York | Private | swedishinstitute.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
33 | Denver, Colorado | Private | pmi.edu |
| Anoka Technical College |
Other Award
|
30 | Anoka, Minnesota | Public | anokatech.edu |
| Atlantic Technical College (ATC) |
Other Award
|
29 | Coconut Creek, Florida | Public | atlantictechnicalcollege.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Residency
|
29 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | concorde.edu |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) |
Residency
|
29 | Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts | Public | massbay.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Residency
|
27 | Grand Prairie, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| Concorde Career Institute |
Residency
|
26 | Tampa, Florida | Private | concorde.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Other Award
|
26 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Concorde Career Institute |
Residency
|
26 | Orlando, Florida | Private | concorde.edu |
| Triton College |
Other Award
|
24 | River Grove, Illinois | Public | triton.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Other Award
|
24 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Other Award
|
22 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Other Award
|
22 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Parkland College |
Residency
|
22 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | parkland.edu |
| H W Brewster Technical College |
Other Award
|
22 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hillsboroughschools.org |
| Concorde Career Institute |
Residency
|
20 | Miramar, Florida | Private | concorde.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Other Award
|
20 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Washtenaw Community College (WCC) |
Other Award
|
20 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | wccnet.edu |
| Greenville Technical College (GTC) |
Other Award
|
19 | Greenville, South Carolina | Public | gvltec.edu |
| Dorsey College |
Other Award
|
19 | Woodhaven, Michigan | Private | dorsey.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
18 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Abcott Institute |
Other Award
|
18 | Southfield, Michigan | Private | abcott.edu |
| Aims Community College |
Other Award
|
17 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | aims.edu |
| Santa Fe College (SF) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
17 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | sfcollege.edu |
| Brookline College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
17 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | brooklinecollege.edu |
| Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) |
Residency
|
17 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | mybrcc.edu |
| American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education (AIMS Education) |
Other Award
|
17 | Piscataway, New Jersey | Private | aimseducation.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Other Award
|
16 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| College of Southern Nevada (CSN) |
Other Award
|
16 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | csn.edu |
| Mountainland Technical College (MTECH) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
16 | Lehi, Utah | Public | mtec.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Other Award
|
15 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | tcatmurfreesboro.edu |
| Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | cptc.edu |
| Premiere Career College |
Other Award
|
15 | Irwindale, California | Private | premierecollege.edu |
| Midwestern Career College (MCC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | mccollege.edu |
| Concorde Career Institute |
Residency
|
14 | Jacksonville, Florida | Private | concorde.edu |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) |
Other Award
|
13 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | minneapolis.edu |
| Medical Career Institute (MCI) |
Other Award
|
13 | Ocean, New Jersey | Private | mcinj.edu |
| Berkeley College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Woodland Park, New Jersey | Private | berkeleycollege.edu |
| Davidson-Davie Community College |
Other Award
|
12 | Thomasville, North Carolina | Public | davidsondavie.edu |
| Brookline College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Tucson, Arizona | Private | brooklinecollege.edu |
| Pinellas Technical College (PTC) |
Other Award
|
11 | Saint Petersburg, Florida | Public | myptc.edu |
| SOWELA Technical Community College |
Other Award
|
11 | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Public | sowela.edu |
| Tarrant County College District (TCCD) |
Other Award
|
11 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | tccd.edu |
| Columbia Basin College (CBC) |
Other Award
|
11 | Pasco, Washington | Public | columbiabasin.edu |
| East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) |
Other Award
|
11 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | evit.com |
| Lorain County Community College (LCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
10 | Elyria, Ohio | Public | lorainccc.edu |
| Williams Technical College (WTC) |
Other Award
|
10 | Houma, Louisiana | Private | williamstechnicalcollege.com |
| Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) |
Residency
|
7 | Springfield, Illinois | Public | llcc.edu |
| Oakton College |
Other Award
|
7 | Des Plaines, Illinois | Public | oakton.edu |
| Fletcher Technical Community College |
Other Award
|
7 | Schriever, Louisiana | Public | fletcher.edu |
| Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) |
Residency
|
7 | Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Public | wctc.edu |
| Fortis College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Orange Park, Florida | Private | fortis.edu |
| Delta College |
Other Award
|
6 | University Center, Michigan | Public | delta.edu |
| Schoolcraft Community College District |
Other Award
|
6 | Livonia, Michigan | Public | schoolcraft.edu |
| Nashville State Community College (NSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Nashville, Tennessee | Public | nscc.edu |
| Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES |
Other Award
|
6 | Liverpool, New York | Public | ocmboces.org |
| Community College of Denver (CCD) |
Other Award
|
5 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ccd.edu |
| Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Melbourne, Florida | Public | easternflorida.edu |
| Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Reno, Nevada | Public | tmcc.edu |
| Yakima Valley College (YVC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Yakima, Washington | Public | yvcc.edu |
| Dorsey College |
Other Award
|
5 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | dorsey.edu |
| Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech) |
Other Award
|
4 | Topeka, Kansas | Public | washburntech.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Other Award
|
4 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | concorde.edu |
| Stark State College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| Northcentral Technical College (NTC) |
Residency
|
3 | Wausau, Wisconsin | Public | ntc.edu |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) |
Residency
|
3 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | cvtc.edu |
| Southern University (SUSLA) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Shreveport, Louisiana | Public | susla.edu |
| Stautzenberger College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Maumee, Ohio | Private | sctoday.edu |
| Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | ccac.edu |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College |
Other Award
|
2 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | reynolds.edu |
| Renton Technical College (RTC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Renton, Washington | Public | rtc.edu |
| Martinsburg College (MC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Martinsburg, West Virginia | Private | martinsburgcollege.edu |
| Lively Technical College (Lively Tech) |
Other Award
|
1 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | livelytech.com |
| Lindsey Hopkins Technical College (LHTC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Miami, Florida | Public | lindseyhopkins.edu |
| Illinois Central College (ICC) |
Other Award
|
1 | East Peoria, Illinois | Public | icc.edu |
| Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Logan, West Virginia | Public | southernwv.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Sterile Processing Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Sterile Processing Technology degree?
Salaries for Sterile Processing Technology graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Surgical Technologists earn around $62,830. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $93,890 compared to $53,363 in South Dakota. Approximately 416,370 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Sterile Processing Technology programs?
Currently 92 accredited institutions offer Sterile Processing Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Herzing University, Madison (341 graduates), Contra Costa Medical Career College (CCMCC) (107 graduates), and Philadelphia Technician Training (PTTI) (92 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Sterile Processing Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 28 in 2010 to 1,964 in 2023-24. This represents a 6,914% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Sterile Processing Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Surgical Technologists, and Medical Equipment Preparers. Related occupations employ approximately 416,370 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Related Health Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Health field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Athletic Training
A program that prepares individuals to work in consultation with, and under the supervision of physicians to prevent and treat sports injuries and...
Genetic Therapy
A program that focuses on the application of genetics to the therapeutic treatment of diseases and inherited abnormalities through the targeted modification of...
Cardiopulmonary Technology
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians and nurses, to perform both cardiovascular and pulmonary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Includes...
Radiation Protection Technician
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of health physicists, occupational safety and health specialists, and public health officials, to monitor and...
Polysomnography
A program that prepares individuals to work under the supervision of a physician to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders. Includes...
Hearing Instrument Specialist
A program that prepares individuals to test the hearing of, and to select, fit and dispense appropriate hearing aids for, patients. Includes instruction...