Best Sterile Processing Tech Programs in Fairfax, Virginia (2026)

Quick answer: Sterile processing technicians in Virginia earn a median of $46,580 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). This page lists accredited sterile processing technician schools near Fairfax, Virginia with local wage data and median graduate earnings for each school.

This guide rounds up sterile processing technician schools serving Fairfax, Virginia and the local job-market figures worth checking first. For context, the state median annual wage for this occupation is approximately $46,580 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Fairfax Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$46,580BLS OEWS, May 2025
Virginia pay range (10th to 90th percentile)$37,320 to $61,280BLS OEWS, May 2025
Washington, DC metro median wage$50,600BLS OEWS, May 2025
National job outlook (2024 to 2034)+10.0% growth, about 10,900 openings per yearBLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
State employment1,840 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
Fairfax County unemployment rate2.4%BLS LAUS, 2024
Virginia location quotient0.90BLS OEWS, May 2025

Nearby Cities

Explore the Sterile processing technician Career

What You’ll Find Below

The school listings below are sorted by proximity to Fairfax. Each entry includes the school name, address, and the credentials offered. Use the Fairfax County and Virginia figures above as a reference point when comparing program length, schedule, and tuition.


Sterile Processing Tech Programs near Fairfax

How We Rank Schools

Local school lists are ordered by location first, using the distance from the city or state page you are viewing. Each eligible school also shows a BOC Score, computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data.

Location / proximity to this page
Primary local sort
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

George Washington University

Washington, DC 15.0 miles away BOC Score 76.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 41
  • Annual completions: 1418
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $95,967 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Trinity Washington University

Washington, DC 16.7 miles away BOC Score 51.7
Tuition $26,610 - $33,903
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 99.5%
  • Graduation rate: 46.6%
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 58
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $64,019 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Montgomery College

Rockville, MD 18.6 miles away BOC Score 59.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 29.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 57
  • Annual completions: 854
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,199 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Frederick Community College

Frederick, MD 41.8 miles away BOC Score 71.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 36.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 60
  • Annual completions: 337
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,058 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

American Public University System

Charles Town, WV 42.5 miles away BOC Score 50.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 55.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 35
  • Annual completions: 5436
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $70,107 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Sterile Processing Technician Pay and Job Outlook

Annual Wage by Percentile - Medical Equipment Preparers
Medical Equipment Preparers annual wage percentiles, BLS OEWS May 2025P10 $36410, P25 $39800, P50 $47700, P75 $58570, P90 $69950.10th$36,41025th$39,80050th (median)$47,70075th$58,57090th$69,950
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Medical Equipment Preparers annual wage percentiles
PercentileAnnual wage
10th$36,410
25th$39,800
50th (median)$47,700
75th$58,570
90th$69,950
Projected employment growth, Medical Equipment Preparers, 2024-2034
Medical Equipment Preparers employment 2024 vs 2034 projection, BLS Employment Projections2024 employment 76500; 2034 projected employment 84200; percent change +10.0%.202476,500 jobs2034 (proj.)84,200 jobsChange: +10.0%
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
Medical Equipment Preparers employment projection 2024 to 2034
YearEmployment
202476,500
2034 projected84,200
Percent change+10.0%

Training & Certification Steps in Virginia

  1. Complete an accredited or state-approved Sterile Processing Technician program (certificate, diploma, or associate degree).
  2. Build hands-on experience through labs, clinicals, or supervised practice as required in your state.
  3. Prepare for any required certification or licensing exams and keep up with continuing education.

Tips for Choosing a Program

  • Confirm the curriculum aligns with employer expectations and any national certification you plan to pursue.
  • Compare schedules. many schools near Fairfax offer evening, weekend, or hybrid options.
  • Ask about clinical, lab, or externship placements and how they are arranged.
  • Review program outcomes, career support services, and available tuition assistance. Individual outcomes may vary.

Next Steps

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does sterile processing technician training take near Fairfax?

Sterile processing technician certificate programs near Fairfax typically take 6 to 12 months of full-time study, while associate degree programs generally run about 2 years. Actual completion time depends on schedule (full-time vs. part-time) and any prerequisite coursework.

How much do sterile processing technicians earn in Virginia?

According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), sterile processing technicians in Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $46,580. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $37,320 to $61,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many sterile processing technician schools are near Fairfax?

The schools listed above are within about 250 miles of Fairfax. Compare them by tuition, program length, and the credential each one awards.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)