What Does a Sterile Processing Technician Do?
A sterile processing technician, also called a central sterile technician or SPD technician, cleans, inspects, assembles, sterilizes, and stores the surgical instruments and equipment that operating rooms and procedure areas use. Sterile processing technicians work in hospital sterile processing departments, ambulatory surgery centers, dental and endoscopy clinics, and third-party reprocessing companies. They decontaminate used instruments, rebuild trays against a count sheet, operate steam and low-temperature sterilizers, and document every load. Most employers require a high school diploma and a CRCST or CBSPD certification, and many states require the certification by law.
The role is often confused with surgical and nursing support titles. A surgical technologist works inside the operating room, passing instruments during the case; the sterile processing technician works outside it, before and after the case, and never scrubs in. A medical assistant in a clinic may wipe down and autoclave a few instruments as one small part of the job, which is a different scale of work from a department that processes hundreds of trays a day. A certified nursing assistant has no overlap at all beyond sharing the hospital building, though CNAs do move into SPD because the hours and the pay are similar and the patient contact is gone.
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Hiring a Sterile Processing Technician: What to Expect
Candidates come from sterile processing certificate programs at community colleges and vocational schools, from entry-level decontamination jobs, from surgical technology programs, from dental assisting, and from military medical logistics. Screen for a current CRCST or CBSPD certification or a scheduled exam date, for the volume of trays the candidate assembled per shift, and for which sterilizers and tracking systems they have used. Ask them to walk through what they do when a biological indicator fails after a load has already gone to the OR, because the answer shows whether they understand recall procedures or only the routine.
Sterile processing postings usually describe the shift too vaguely. Decontamination, assembly, and sterilization are often separate stations with separate shifts, evening and night shifts handle most of the volume, and every-other-weekend or on-call rotations are common. State which station the hire will start on, the shift and rotation, the certification deadline, and whether the hospital reimburses the exam fee, because certified technicians receive several offers and compare those details first.
A posting for this role should state the certification deadline that applies under state law and whether the hospital pays for the exam. It should also name the instrument tracking system, such as Censis or SPM, because the system reports each technician’s assembly errors and productivity by name.
On healthcare searches, 4 Corner Resources submits qualified candidates in an average of 4.5 days, clients interview an average of 1.46 candidates per hire, and we submit 1.85 candidates per hire.
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Sterile Processing Technician Core Responsibilities
- Receive used instruments and equipment from the operating room and procedure areas, sort them, and begin manual and ultrasonic cleaning following the manufacturer’s instructions for use
- Operate washer-disinfectors and cart washers, load them correctly, and verify cycle completion
- Inspect each instrument for cleanliness, function, and damage under lighted magnification, inspect lumened instruments with a borescope, and pull defective items for repair
- Assemble instrument trays against the count sheet and the surgeon’s preference card, and wrap or containerize them for sterilization
- Confirm each instrument against the digital count sheet and tray photos in the tracking system during assembly
- Operate steam, hydrogen peroxide, and ethylene oxide sterilizers, select the correct cycle, and place chemical and biological indicators in every load
- Document each sterilization load, read biological indicator results, and initiate a recall when a result is positive
- Scan trays through the instrument tracking system, such as Censis or SPM, at each step so the OR can locate any tray at any time
- Store sterile supplies by date, rotate stock, and check packaging for compromised seals
- Build case carts for the next day’s surgical schedule and deliver them to the OR on time
- Reprocess flexible endoscopes in the automated endoscope reprocessor according to department policy where assigned
- Maintain the department’s temperature, humidity, water quality, and sterilizer maintenance logs for Joint Commission and CMS surveys
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Knowledge of decontamination, assembly, and sterilization standards from AAMI ST79, ST91, and ST108 and the CDC
- Ability to identify several hundred surgical instruments by name and use, including orthopedic, laparoscopic, and robotic sets
- Experience operating steam and low-temperature sterilizers and reading chemical and biological indicators
- Familiarity with instrument tracking systems such as Censis, SPM, or Epic OpTime integration
- Understanding of manufacturer instructions for use and why they override department habit
- Ability to stand for a full shift, lift 50 pounds, and push loaded case carts
- Computer skills for tracking systems, digital count sheets, preference cards, and electronic load records
- Knowledge of infection control, personal protective equipment, and bloodborne pathogen precautions
Soft skills
- Attention to detail across a 60-piece tray at the end of a 12-hour shift
- Willingness to stop and ask when an instrument or an IFU is unfamiliar
- Composure when the OR calls for a tray that is still in the sterilizer
- Comfort with a tracking system that reports each technician’s errors and output by name
- Consistency in following the same procedure for the thousandth tray as for the first
Education
- High school diploma or GED required
- Completion of a sterile processing certificate program preferred, or equivalent on-the-job training in a hospital SPD
Certifications
- Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) from HSPA or Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) from CBSPD, required at hire or within the period state law allows in states such as New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania
- Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) or Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor (CFER) for roles that include scopes
- Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) from HSPA preferred for lead and tech II roles
Preferred Qualifications
- 1 or more years of experience in a hospital SPD processing orthopedic, neuro, or cardiac trays
- Experience with the employer’s tracking system and sterilizer brands
- Experience reprocessing flexible endoscopes
- Prior work in a department that passed a Joint Commission or state survey without sterilization findings
- Surgical technology or dental assisting background
- CIS or CER certification in addition to CRCST
How Much Does a Sterile Processing Technician Make?
Typical national range: $40,143 to $57,073, with a national average of $48,319. Salary data reviewed October 2026 by 4 Corner Resources.
Sterile processing technician salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Sterile Processing Technician is:
$48,319
Sample Job Description Templates for Sterile Processing Technicians
Sterile Processing Technician (Hospital)
Position Overview
We are hiring a Sterile Processing Technician for our 400-bed hospital’s central sterile department, which supports 22 operating rooms and the cath lab. You will rotate through decontamination, assembly, and sterilization, scan every tray through Censis, and build case carts for the next day’s schedule. The position reports to the SPD Manager and works the evening shift, 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with every third weekend.
Responsibilities
- Decontaminate instruments and operate washer-disinfectors following the manufacturer’s instructions
- Inspect and assemble trays against count sheets and surgeon preference cards
- Operate steam and hydrogen peroxide sterilizers and document every load with indicator results
- Scan trays through Censis at each step and use its digital count sheets during assembly
- Build and deliver case carts for the first cases of the next morning
- Report missing or damaged instruments to the lead technician the same shift
Requirements
Hard skills
- CRCST or CSPDT certification, or completion within 1 year of hire as state law requires
- Knowledge of AAMI ST79 and ST108 standards
- Ability to identify general, orthopedic, and laparoscopic instruments
- Able to stand for the full shift and lift 50 pounds
Soft skills
- Accurate on tray counts under time pressure
- Asks before guessing on an unfamiliar instrument
- Reliable on evening and weekend shifts
Education
- High school diploma or GED required; sterile processing certificate preferred
Preferred qualifications
- 1 or more years of hospital SPD experience
- Experience with Censis or SPM
Sterile Processing Technician (Ambulatory Surgery Center)
Position Overview
Our multispecialty ambulatory surgery center is adding a Sterile Processing Technician to support 4 operating rooms and 2 procedure rooms. You will handle the full cycle yourself, from decontamination through sterilization and storage, for orthopedic, ENT, GI, and ophthalmology cases, and turn trays around between cases on the same day. The role reports to the Clinical Director and works Monday through Friday with no nights, weekends, or call.
Responsibilities
- Process all instruments for the day’s schedule, including same-day turnover of loaner and limited trays
- Receive, inspect, and process vendor loaner sets ahead of the case and return them complete
- Operate the steam sterilizer and the low-temperature sterilizer and keep all load records
- Reprocess GI endoscopes in the automated reprocessor and keep the scope log
- Inspect endoscope channels with a borescope and document each inspection
- Monitor sterile storage conditions and rotate supplies
- Prepare sterilization records for state and accreditation surveys
Requirements
Hard skills
- CRCST or CSPDT certification required at hire
- 2 or more years of sterile processing experience, with exposure to orthopedic and ophthalmic instruments
- Experience reprocessing flexible endoscopes under AAMI ST91, or CER certification
- Comfortable working as the only SPD technician on site with support from the OR staff
Soft skills
- Manages the whole department’s workflow alone without falling behind the schedule
- Communicates directly with surgeons and circulators when a tray will be late
- Organized with loaner trays from several vendors in one week
Education
- High school diploma or GED required
Certifications
- CRCST or CSPDT required; CER preferred
Lead Sterile Processing Technician (SPD Tech II)
Position Overview
We are seeking a Lead Sterile Processing Technician to supervise the night shift in our central sterile department. You will assign work across decontamination, assembly, and sterilization, resolve problems with the OR charge nurse, train new technicians, and keep the shift’s documentation complete. The position reports to the SPD Manager and leads a team of 6 technicians on the 11 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. shift.
Responsibilities
- Assign stations and priorities at the start of the shift based on the next day’s surgical schedule
- Resolve tray shortages and missing instruments with the OR before the first case
- Train and check off new technicians on each station and document their competencies
- Audit assembled trays and sterilizer records for accuracy and address errors with the technician
- Review tracking system reports on tray errors and productivity with each technician
- Manage sterilizer failures, positive biological indicators, and recalls according to policy
- Report shift productivity and problems to the manager each morning
Requirements
Hard skills
- CRCST or CSPDT certification and 3 or more years of hospital SPD experience
- Working knowledge of AAMI ST79, ST91, ST108, and Joint Commission sterilization standards
- Experience with instrument tracking system reporting and productivity data
- Experience training other technicians
Soft skills
- Keeps a night shift on task without a manager on site
- Corrects errors firmly and without embarrassing the technician
- Direct with the OR when a request cannot be met before the first case
Education
- High school diploma or GED required; associate degree preferred
Certifications
- CRCST or CSPDT required; CIS or CHL (Certified Healthcare Leader) preferred
Travel Sterile Processing Technician (Contract)
Position Overview
We are hiring certified Sterile Processing Technicians for 13-week contract assignments at hospitals across the Southeast. You will join an existing SPD team, learn the facility’s tracking system and instrument sets in the first week, and work independently at any station for the remainder of the assignment. Contracts include housing and travel stipends and the option to extend, and each assignment reports to the facility’s SPD Manager.
Responsibilities
- Complete facility orientation and tracking system training within the first week
- Work decontamination, assembly, and sterilization stations as assigned, including specialty trays
- Follow the facility’s policies and instructions for use even where they differ from a prior employer’s
- Maintain the same documentation standard the facility’s own staff follow
- Pick up extra shifts and weekend coverage when the facility requests it
- Report instrument and equipment problems through the facility’s process
Requirements
Hard skills
- CRCST or CSPDT certification and 2 or more years of recent hospital SPD experience
- Experience with at least 2 tracking systems, such as Censis and SPM, and with orthopedic, neuro, or cardiac trays
- Ability to learn a new department’s instrument sets and layouts in days
- Willingness to travel and to accept assignments with less than 2 weeks’ notice
Soft skills
- Adapts to a new team’s habits without criticizing them
- Self-sufficient from the first week
- Professional with staff who may be wary of contract help
Education
- High school diploma or GED required
Certifications
- CRCST or CSPDT required; CIS or CER preferred