Are Sterile Processing Technicians in Demand?

When planning for a future career, it’s smart to look at positions that will be required for years to come and that includes sterile processing technicians (SPTs).

Any medical procedure or surgery includes tools that must go through a rigorous and intricate process of cleaning and sterilization by these trained techs.

Of course, just because a position is in demand, it could still mean there’s a surplus of qualified potential employees.

What is the future of sterile processing technicians, and how will future technology impact the demand for the roles?

Let’s explore this topic in-depth.

Why Sterile Processing Technicians Are in Demand

Let’s look at the layers of demand that lead to the job outlook for sterile processing technicians.

First, it’s important to note that under the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sterile processing technicians fall under the job title Medical Equipment Preparers.

That’s not to be confused with Medical Equipment Repairers.

Technicians can work in a variety of fields, with an average growth rate of around 6% through 2033.

In 2023, 70,700 people were working in the role.

However, as this chart details, the field-specific demands can be as high as 24% or as low as -1.7%.

While the average growth rate works out to about 6%, there’s more to the story.

Sterile processing technicians are needed for every healthcare clinic, from veterinary offices to dentists to hospitals or surgery centers.

When you review any healthcare category for those topics, you’ll see the growth is much higher than average.

That means the more healthcare jobs there are in demand, the more sterile processing technicians are needed.

What are the Most In-Demand Sterile Processing Tech Jobs?

The BLS projections show several fields well above the average rate of growth for the next decade.

This is also a great time to remember that sterile processing isn’t always just for hospitals and such.

The jobs can also expand to research facilities and government entities.

The top five in-demand categories from 2023 until 2033 include:

1. Physical/Occupational Therapy (24%)
2. Mental Health/Substance Abuse Centers (22%)
3. Veterinary Services (21%)
4. Home Healthcare Services (21%)
5. Outpatient Care Centers (18%)

The only fields that are expected to have a negative percentage are nursing care and residential care facilities.

Sterile Processing Jobs in Demand with the Highest Pay

Of course, it’s not just about finding a job as a sterile processing technician.

You also want to be able to live a good quality of life with a livable wage.

While you’re not going to become a millionaire in the field of sterile processing, the highest-paid jobs, according to BLS projections, include management positions, local government, specialties, and outpatient care centers.

I’ve seen repeatedly in my research that psychiatric care or substance abuse centers have among the highest demand mixed with the highest level of pay.

What Cities or States Have the Highest Demand for Sterile Processing Techs?

Finding the states with the highest demand for sterile processing techs isn’t really that surprising.

The jobs are located in the states and cities with the highest populations.

That includes New York, California, Texas, Florida, and Ohio.

However, when we look at location quotients, which puts all states on a level playing field of the population compared to demand, South Dakota, Maine, New Hampshire, Missouri, and West Virginia stand out.

Long-Term Job Stability of Sterile Processing Technicians

While putting together this information, we’ve been very transparent about the pros and cons of becoming a sterile processing technician.

One of those things to consider when getting and keeping a job in the field is how stressful it can be.

Even with meticulous guidance on how to clean and sterilize, the truth is that more surgeries and procedures mean more money.

That puts more stress on the sterile processing techs to give the same quality under tight deadlines.

Plus, since it’s primarily a great entry-level or mid-level position, it’s not an end goal for most techs.

That will lead to job turnover or sterile processing technicians looking for higher-paying gigs.

The job churn is another aspect of the growing demand for sterile processing techs.

It’s also why you might want to consider getting experience and education before you start the role, as it might mean standing out in a competitive market while qualifying for a higher wage than entry-level.

Sterile Processing Technician Certification Statistics

One of the great parts about being a data researcher is that I can help you compare the demand vs. the workforce.

Since most hospitals require certification upon hire or within a year of starting the job, we can go to the top accrediting entities to see how many people are taking the certification exam.

For the Healthcare Sterile Processing Technician (HSPT), about 11,000 people took the exam in 2023, and about 8,000 people passed.

Keep in mind that it includes people who were going for re-certification, which is required every five years.

The Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) saw about 3,750 exam takers, and only half passed the basic certification.

How to Make Yourself More In-Demand for a Sterile Processing Tech Job

Beyond the ground-level certification, which is the SPD Technician (CSPDT Exam), there are options to get certified in endoscopy, ambulatory surgery, surgical instrument specialists, and SPD management.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the desire to be a traveling sterile processing technician is high, as the position pays more, allows access to unique places, and breaks up the monotony of doing the same tasks in the same place daily.

While the position might be in demand, you’ll likely find a more competitive landscape when looking at traveling as a sterile processing tech.

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