Indiana sterile processing techs earn roughly $18.43 to $29.58 an hour (Indeed, 2026), and Indianapolis sits at the top of that band because the academic hospitals are here. That $11 spread is the whole story of this market: the floor is low enough that a hospital will train you from nothing, and the ceiling only opens up with certification and complex tray experience. Compare it against the national salary guide before you take an offer at the bottom of the range.
Indianapolis is an academic-anchored market, so the choice is instrument depth at Methodist versus a predictable schedule at an ASC. The hospital vs. surgery center breakdown covers what you trade.
About $18.43 to $29.58 per hour based on 2026 Indeed data for Indiana, with Indianapolis at the upper end because of its academic hospital concentration. The top of that range generally belongs to certified techs handling complex trays, not to entry-level staff.
Yes. Indiana does not require certification by law, and the low end of the wage band reflects hospitals that train in-house, most often on nights or weekends. Metro surgery centers rarely take uncertified applicants, so start at a hospital. See the no-experience guide.
Not by law. Indiana is not one of the five states that legally require central service certification, so it is an employer preference here, and CRCST is what IU Health and the metro ASCs most often name. See the CRCST certification guide.