The Booming Market for Sterile Processing Technicians
Introduction to Sterile Processing Technicians
Hospitals are desperate to fill a middle-class health care job that only requires candidates to graduate from a certificate program — the issue is nobody’s heard of it.
Sterile processing technicians maintain the hygiene and safety of medical institutions by decontaminating, inspecting, packaging and sterilizing the tools used in the facilities.
Job Description and Related Titles
Other related titles include Certified Registered Central Service Technician, sterilization technician, medical equipment preparer and Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician, per the Indeed Career Guide.
Sterile processing technicians decontaminate, inspect, package and sterilize tools. evelinphoto – stock.adobe.com
These are vital — and well-paying — roles that facilities struggle to hire for, mainly because most people don’t know the job exists.
Salary and Benefits
Salaries for entry-level hourly positions range from around $50,000 to $70,000 a year, health care expert Rebecca Hanson told the Wall Street Journal.
However, the national average salary is $74,898 per year, with pay ranging from $57,113 to $98,221 per year, based on Indeed data.
The positions often come with employer benefits such as 401(k) plans, health insurance and paid time off.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Hanson, an executive director at a company that helps train people to join the health care field, said jobs in surgical instrument sterilization can be a great start to other higher-paying roles, such as a radiologist or surgical technician.
Other related titles include Certified Registered Central Service Technician, sterilization technician, medical equipment preparer and Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician, per the Indeed Career Guide. YURII MASLAK – stock.adobe.com
Training and Certification
All that’s needed for the position is a certificate and clinical hours, both of which NYC’s LaGuardia Community College offers.
The public institution began surgical instrument sterilization classes in 2015.
The price of admission for the classes is $1,500; however, scholarships can cover most of this cost.
Training starts with several months of classroom sessions taught at LaGuardia’s campus in Queens.
After completing the course, students are given the preliminary certification exam and placed with unpaid internships, which LaGuardia helps them secure.
During training rounds, pupils complete 108 hours of clinical work, according to the New York State Education Department.
Success Stories
More than 80% of students complete the program at LaGuardia and finish with a paid job in the field, the WSJ reported.
One of those students is Fatima el Idrissi. The 38-year-old mother of three finished training in 2023 after learning about the occupation on Facebook.
“I had never heard of this job,” she told the WSJ. “Now I’ve got a first step in a hospital, so I can go on to other medical fields if I want.”
She currently makes $34 an hour in a New York City hospital lab owned by Northwell Health, the largest health care system in the state. Her paychecks are double what she made as a childcare aide.
Shyann Lynch learned about the position after she Googled “highest paying job with the shortest amount of time” for training. The 34-year-old managed an Olive Garden in Brooklyn before the COVID-19 pandemic and enrolled at LaGuardia after her internet search pulled up the program.
Queensborough Community College, Kingsborough Community College, Borough of Manhattan Community College, The City University of New York, Long Island University and other higher education institutions also offer certification programs.
Over 80% of students complete the program at LaGuardia and finish with a paid job in the field, the WSJ reported. Roman – stock.adobe.com
Job Outlook and Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, surgical technologist roles, a related job, are expected to increase by 6% between 2023 and 2033.
That’s higher than the national average.
This comes as more and more of the fastest-growing careers require only a modest level of tech skills and some sort of certification for positions that can afford most people to live a middle-class life.
Last year, 72% of job openings that required less than a bachelor’s or associate’s degree were in positions with labor shortages, the nonprofit research organization Burning Glass Institute reported to the WSJ.
That statistic could make many Americans happy, as college tuition has reached astonishing levels.
Conclusion
The demand for sterile processing technicians is on the rise, and with the right training and certification, individuals can secure well-paying jobs in the healthcare industry. As the job market continues to evolve, it’s essential to explore alternative career paths that don’t require a traditional college degree.
FAQs
- What is a sterile processing technician?
A sterile processing technician is a healthcare professional responsible for decontaminating, inspecting, packaging, and sterilizing medical instruments and equipment. - What is the average salary for a sterile processing technician?
The national average salary for a sterile processing technician is $74,898 per year, with pay ranging from $57,113 to $98,221 per year. - What kind of training is required to become a sterile processing technician?
A certificate program and clinical hours are required to become a sterile processing technician. Many community colleges, such as LaGuardia Community College, offer certification programs. - What are the benefits of being a sterile processing technician?
The benefits of being a sterile processing technician include a competitive salary, employer benefits such as 401(k) plans, health insurance, and paid time off, and opportunities for career advancement in the healthcare industry. - What is the job outlook for sterile processing technicians?
The job outlook for sterile processing technicians is positive, with a 6% growth rate expected between 2023 and 2033, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
