Sterilisation technician salary: state and industry differences in Australia

Sterilisation technician salary: what the data shows

A sterilisation technician cleans, sterilises and packages surgical instruments and other hospital equipment. The role is classified under ANZSCO 711914 (Other Machine Operators). Understanding the sterilisation technician salary in Australia means looking at industry and state patterns, because the ABS does not publish median earnings for this specific occupation.

Where the occupation sits in the economy

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, there are about 4,800 sterilisation technicians employed nationally. The workforce is 67% female, with a median age of 50 – older than the all-occupations median of 40. Part-time work is common (42% work part-time), and full-time technicians average 41 hours per week. Almost all work in Health Care and Social Assistance, an industry with a salary index of 97.8 – slightly below the national line of 100 (which equals $108,352 annualised full-time adult ordinary-time earnings).

State differences

Sterilisation technicians are not evenly spread. New South Wales employs 31.5% of the workforce, Victoria 27.8%, Queensland 13.8%, Western Australia 12.1%, and South Australia 9.3%. The remaining states and territories have smaller shares. State-level salary indexes for all occupations range from 88.6 in Tasmania to 109.9 in the ACT. While no occupation-specific data exists, these benchmarks suggest that a sterilisation technician in Western Australia (index 106.9) or the ACT (109.9) might earn more on average than one in Tasmania (88.6) or South Australia (94.6). However, award rates are national, so any difference would come from enterprise agreements, market pressure, or cost-of-living adjustments.

Industry context

The Health Care and Social Assistance industry has an index of 97.8, meaning average full-time earnings are about 2.2% below the national line. This is the only industry where sterilisation technicians work. For comparison, Mining (index 154.7) pays well above, while Retail trade (75.9) and Accommodation and food services (72.5) pay below. The industry index gives a rough guide, but individual roles vary.

Award coverage and minimum pay

The most likely award is the Health Professionals and Support Services Award (MA000027). The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for this award, which include minimum hourly rates, allowances, and penalty rates. From 1 July 2026, award minima rose by 4.75%. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour (index 48.2), and the entry-level award floor is $25.74 per hour. Casual employees get a loading of $33.05 per hour (25% on the national minimum). Superannuation is 12% from 1 July 2026, with a maximum contribution base of $270,830.

Salary index and take-home pay

Because no median figure exists for sterilisation technicians, we cannot place them precisely on the Salary Index. If you earn, say, $60,000 per year, that would be an index of about 55 (60,000 ÷ 108,352 × 100). Take-home pay for a resident resident with no HELP debt, using the tax-free threshold and 2% Medicare levy, would be roughly $48,000 after tax. But this is hypothetical. The index is a benchmark, not a quote.

How to find your rate

Check the pay guides for the Health Professionals and Support Services Award or ask your employer for the classification. Enterprise agreements may offer more. For state comparisons, see our states page. The industries page shows how health care compares. For more on how the index works, visit how the index works.

Conclusion

The sterilisation technician salary in Australia is not publicly reported at the occupation level. The role sits in health care (industry index 97.8) and is concentrated in NSW and Victoria. Award minimums provide a floor, but actual pay depends on experience, employer, and location. Use the resources above to benchmark your own situation.