How long does sterile processing technician training take in North Carolina?

Most people become a Sterile Processing Technician in North Carolina 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 North Carolina (2026)

Q: How much do sterile processing technicians earn in North Carolina?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), sterile processing technicians in North Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $45,130. Employment concentration in North Carolina is about 1.18 times the national average for this occupation.

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

North Carolina currently employs approximately 2,900 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

North Carolina employs about 2,900 sterile processing technicians earning a median $45,130 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.

Key Facts

Median wage (North Carolina): $45,130/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in North Carolina: 2,900 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.18x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 10.0% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Sterile Processing Technician Schools in North Carolina

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. 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	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Davidson-Davie Community College	51.6	Contact school for pricing	$44,533	44%	Yes*	37 mi
2	Spartanburg Community College	51.3	Contact school for pricing	$48,991	Not reported	Yes*	130 mi
3	Gaston College	51.1	$3,186 - $16,866	Not reported	59%	Yes*	82 mi
4	Horry-Georgetown Technical College	50.3	Contact school for pricing	$46,000	32%	Yes*	122 mi
5	Fayetteville Technical Community College	45.5	Contact school for pricing	$48,138	22%	Yes*	54 mi
6	Central Carolina Technical College	43.9	Contact school for pricing	$45,876	Not reported	Yes*	111 mi
7	Midlands Technical College	41.9	Contact school for pricing	$46,832	17%	Yes*	130 mi
8	Williamsburg Technical College	41.4	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	Yes*	124 mi
9	York Technical College	40.4	Contact school for pricing	$47,738	Not reported	—	79 mi
10	Florence-Darlington Technical College	35.7	Contact school for pricing	$44,978	27%	—	84 mi

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.

North Carolina employs approximately 2,900 sterile processing technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,130 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 North Carolina, 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 (North Carolina): $45,130 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in North Carolina

How to become a Sterile Processing Technician in North Carolina? 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 North Carolina? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do sterile processing technicians earn in North Carolina? The median annual wage for sterile processing technicians in North Carolina is $45,130 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,410 and experienced professionals can earn $58,950 or more ¹.

How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in North Carolina

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 North Carolina

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 North Carolina

Medical Equipment Preparers Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	630	$46,420	$47,160	$37,440	$61,340
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	560	$38,890	$44,170	$34,860	$56,090
Winston-Salem	480	$45,130	$48,880	$39,490	$60,610
Raleigh-Cary	320	$46,630	$47,890	$35,730	$61,420
Greensboro-High Point	190	$45,590	$46,680	$36,120	$56,960
Greenville	130	$38,280	$42,380	$38,280	$56,100
Wilmington	130	$40,580	$44,310	$37,460	$55,920
Asheville	120	$43,540	$44,900	$36,410	$60,690
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton	70	$42,260	$44,420	$36,810	$56,120
Fayetteville	40	$37,890	$42,030	$32,920	$47,430
Durham-Chapel Hill	N/A	$44,230	$45,790	$39,250	$53,800

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 North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 2,900 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 North Carolina with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.

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

How much do sterile processing technicians earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for sterile processing technicians in North Carolina is $45,130, which is $1,360 below the national median of $46,490 according to BLS data ¹.

In North Carolina

Best Trade Schools in North Carolina (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in North Carolina

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)