How long does sterile processing technician training take in Louisiana?

Most people become a Sterile Processing Technician in Louisiana through a sterile-processing program or on-the-job training plus CRCST; some states register the role.

How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Louisiana (2026)

Q: How much do sterile processing technicians earn in Louisiana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), sterile processing technicians in Louisiana earned a median annual wage of approximately $35,960. Employment concentration in Louisiana is roughly 0.64 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for sterile processing technicians in Louisiana?

Louisiana currently employs approximately 620 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 10.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Louisiana medical equipment preparers earn a median annual wage of $35,960 ($17.29/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 620 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -24.6% below the national median of $47,700 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $35,960 ($17.29/hr)
25th percentile: $30,470 per year
75th percentile: $41,500 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $50,440 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $27,880 per year
Workers employed in Louisiana: 620
Versus national median: -24.6% below the U.S. median of $47,700
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.64 - this occupation is less concentrated in Louisiana than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Louisiana employs about 620 sterile processing technicians earning a median $35,960 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Sterile Processing Technician here means completing a sterile-processing program or on-the-job training plus CRCST; some states register the role. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Louisiana

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	College of the Mainland	64.9	$2,310 in-state / $4,140 out-of-state	$58,013	31%	Yes*	223 mi
2	Lee College	53.0	$2,520 in-state / $5,190 out-of-state	$57,434	53%	—	211 mi
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3	SOWELA Technical Community College	49.8	$4,305	$60,488	43%	Yes*	99 mi
4	Lamar Institute of Technology	48.0	$2,844 in-state / $12,924 out-of-state	$59,945	31%	Yes*	154 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Williams Technical College	47.1	Contact school for pricing	$31,030	85%	—	113 mi
6	Fletcher Technical Community College	45.6	$4,219	$53,749	30%	Yes*	102 mi
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7	Baton Rouge Community College	43.7	$4,321	$45,313	31%	Yes*	52 mi
8	Delgado Community College	41.7	$4,279	$48,141	24%	Yes*	120 mi
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9	Fortis Institute	40.1	Contact school for pricing	$40,918	67%	—	229 mi
10	Louisiana State University-Eunice	31.6	$4,730 in-state / $10,094 out-of-state	$54,639	19%	Yes*	54 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Louisiana employs approximately 620 sterile processing technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $35,960 ¹. Nationally, sterile processing technician employment is projected to grow 10.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 10,900 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Sterile Processing Technician in Louisiana, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: sterile-processing program or OJT (find programs)
Typical timeline: a sterile-processing program or on-the-job training plus CRCST; some states register the role
Exam: HSPA CRCST
Median wage (Louisiana): $35,960 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Louisiana

How to become a Sterile Processing Technician in Louisiana? Complete a sterile-processing program or on-the-job training plus CRCST; some states register the role. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a sterile-processing program or on-the-job training plus CRCST; some states register the role. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Louisiana? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do sterile processing technicians earn in Louisiana? The median annual wage for sterile processing technicians in Louisiana is $35,960 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $27,880 and experienced professionals can earn $50,440 or more ¹.

How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Louisiana

Complete a sterile-processing program or OJT. Finish a program or documented on-the-job training. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Earn CRCST. Pass the HSPA CRCST exam. Confirm any state registration with the employer.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Sterile Processing Technician License Requirements in Louisiana

Sterile-processing technicians typically earn CRCST. Some states add registration.

Typical path

Complete training.
Earn CRCST.
Register if the state requires it.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the employer before you enroll.

Sterile Processing Technician Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

Medical Equipment Preparers Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical equipment preparers wages in Louisiana vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Shreveport-Bossier City	150	$35,830	$35,780	$27,600	$45,190
New Orleans-Metairie	130	$38,320	$42,090	$29,630	$59,830
Baton Rouge	70	$36,660	$37,800	$29,100	$52,400
Lafayette	60	$36,930	$38,040	$27,730	$58,120
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington	40	$38,260	$38,860	$23,970	$50,440
Alexandria	30	$31,710	$33,090	$21,380	$48,150
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux	30	$29,350	$31,660	$23,370	$37,170

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for sterile processing technicians in Louisiana? Louisiana currently employs approximately 620 sterile processing technicians ¹. Nationally, sterile processing technician employment is projected to grow 10.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a sterile processing technician in Louisiana with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.

What training programs are available in Louisiana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Louisiana.

How much do sterile processing technicians earn in Louisiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for sterile processing technicians in Louisiana is $35,960, which is $10,530 below the national median of $46,490 according to BLS data ¹.

In Louisiana

Best Trade Schools in Louisiana (2026)

Top local programs

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Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

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

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)