Birmingham, AL – Sterile Processing Technician Jobs
Birmingham, Alabama
Sterile Processing Technician Jobs in Birmingham
UAB Hospital is Alabama's only ACS-verified Level I adult trauma center, running more than 6,000 trauma activations a year across a 1,207-bed campus, which means around-the-clock instrument turnover and real night shift volume. Glassdoor puts Birmingham SPD pay at $39,042 to $55,118 (2025), and Alabama has no certification statute, so CRCST is an employer preference here rather than a legal requirement.
Where the jobs are
Birmingham Employers
UAB HospitalLevel I Trauma
Statewide referral hub for complex surgical and trauma cases, and the largest single SPD employer in the metro.
UAB Medicine NetworkAcademic
Affiliated campuses and clinics add openings beyond the flagship hospital.
Community HospitalsMetro
Smaller Birmingham-area hospitals run leaner departments with less specialty tray variety than UAB. [VERIFY]
Surgery CentersAmbulatory
Outpatient sites across the metro offer day shifts and a narrower instrument set. [VERIFY]
Getting in without experience
A Level I trauma center processes volume that a surgery center never sees, so UAB is the market's best place to build tray breadth fast, and the hardest place to start cold. If you have no experience, target the smaller metro hospitals and ambulatory sites first, then move to UAB with hours behind you. See how to get hired with no experience.
Questions
Birmingham SPD FAQ
How much do sterile processing techs make in Birmingham?
Glassdoor reports $39,042 to $55,118 per year for the Birmingham area as of 2025. The top of that range generally belongs to certified techs on nights or weekends at UAB rather than day shift roles at outpatient sites.
Do you need CRCST to work in Birmingham?
No. Alabama has no certification law, unlike New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. Certification still moves you into the upper half of the Birmingham pay range and is often expected within your first year at UAB.
Is night shift worth it at a trauma center?
UAB's 6,000-plus annual trauma activations do not pause overnight, so nights carry heavy case volume and typically a shift differential. If you want to learn complex trays quickly, that is where the reps are.