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Sterile Processing Tech Per Diem
Company : Catholic Health Initiatives
Location : Santa Cruz, CA, 95065
Job Type : Per Diem
Salary : 47.4-47.4 HOUR
Date Posted : 12 January 2026
Job Summary and Responsibilities
Position Summary:
Disassembles, decontaminates, cleans, and reassembles surgical instruments and patient care supplies. Assembles single pack instruments and instrument trays for sterilization. Operates steam autoclave and gas plasma sterilizer. Loads and unloads supply carts and delivers sterile processed supplies to service areas. Assembles surgical case carts.
Job Requirements
Minimum:
- Previous Sterile Processing Technician experience is required.
- Completion of Sterile Processing Technician training is required.
Preferred:
- Two (2) to three (3) of Sterile Processing Technician experience in an acute care hospital is preferred.
Dominican Hospital (a member of Dignity Health) is a 222-bed facility that offers a wide range of services to residents of California’s Central Coast. With 24/7 emergency care, comprehensive care in cardiac, orthopedics, oncology, women’s and children’s services, we continue to lead the region in medical innovation and excellence in healthcare.
Comprehensive Care
Dominican offers emergency services and is a Certified Stroke Center and Chest Pain Center. Dominican’s services include the only comprehensive Cancer Center in Santa Cruz County, a Total Joint Replacement program, and advanced neurological and endoscopic services. Dominican regularly receives ‘A’ grades for hospital safety from Leapfrog Group, and has received national recognition for superior patient safety, cardiac care, and stroke treatment from Healthgrades, a leading provider of comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals.
As Santa Cruz County’s heart attack (STEMI) receiving center, Dominican Hospital provides cutting edge cardiac care. The hospital’s heart attack treatment times consistently beat the national average, and the hospital offers two cardiac catheterization labs available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Groundbreaking cardiac procedures at Dominican include the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure, which allows for heart valve replacement without opening a patient’s chest.
Dominican Hospital has forged significant partnerships with area hospitals to bring exceptional care to Santa Cruz County. The hospital offers a level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) through a partnership with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Neurosurgery at Dominican is also offered through a partnership with Stanford Health Care.
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Frequently asked questions
In Santa Cruz, CA, employers often prefer sterile processing techs with certification like CBSPD or IAHCSMM, reflecting local healthcare standards. Though not always mandatory, these credentials enhance job prospects at facilities like Dominican Hospital, aligning with regional patient safety priorities.
Santa Cruz’s healthcare market shows steady demand for sterile processing techs, driven by hospitals like Dominican offering specialized cardiac and oncology services. Part-time or per diem roles are increasingly popular to meet fluctuating caseloads, especially in acute care settings.
Per diem sterile processing techs handle instrument decontamination, sterilization, and supply cart assembly on flexible schedules. They must efficiently operate sterilization equipment and adapt quickly to varying workloads, ensuring sterile supplies are ready for surgical procedures when needed.
A Sterile Processing Tech II typically demonstrates advanced expertise in sterilization protocols, troubleshooting equipment issues, and managing inventory. Experience in complex hospital settings and familiarity with multiple sterilization methods often distinguish this level from entry-level techs.
Part-time sterile processing techs usually focus on core sterilization tasks without extended administrative duties. While their infection control work matches full-time peers, they often have less involvement in training or management, offering flexibility but fewer advancement opportunities.
Joining Catholic Health Initiatives as a per diem sterile processing tech offers exposure to high-quality care environments like Dominican Hospital, flexible scheduling, and access to cutting-edge sterilization technologies. The role supports work-life balance while contributing to exceptional patient safety standards.
Catholic Health Initiatives encourages continuous education by providing access to sterile processing tech programs and certifications, aligning with their commitment to medical excellence. This support helps techs stay updated on best practices and enhances career growth within their healthcare network.
Sterile Processing Tech Per Diem roles in Santa Cruz generally offer hourly rates ranging from $22 to $28, reflecting local living costs and healthcare demand. Rates may vary based on experience, certification, and shift timing, aligning with competitive compensation in California’s central coast region.
Candidates need completion of sterile processing technician training and prior experience, ideally 2-3 years in acute care. Familiarity with autoclave and plasma sterilizer operation, strict adherence to safety protocols, and the ability to handle surgical instruments efficiently are crucial.
With experience, sterile processing techs can advance to supervisory roles, specialize in complex sterilization technologies, or transition into sterile processing management. Working in Santa Cruz’s diverse medical centers opens doors to cross-training in related areas like infection control or supply chain coordination.