Surgical technologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,940 | $22.09 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Mean (average) | $68,710 | $33.03 |
| 90th percentile | $96,940 | $46.61 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Surgical technologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $49,420 | $36,490 | $64,360 | 2,480 | 1.56 |
| Alaska | $80,380 | $54,840 | $101,060 | 310 | 1.28 |
| Arizona | $72,260 | $50,030 | $96,840 | 2,410 | 0.98 |
| Arkansas | $57,400 | $38,750 | $75,460 | 1,640 | 1.66 |
| California | $81,310 | $49,140 | $115,740 | 11,920 | 0.87 |
| Colorado | $75,740 | $51,040 | $92,580 | 2,100 | 0.97 |
| Connecticut | $79,890 | $45,980 | $104,920 | 1,220 | 0.95 |
| Delaware | $62,250 | $48,150 | $79,310 | 340 | 0.93 |
| District of Columbia | $77,520 | $37,800 | $101,180 | 340 | 0.63 |
| Florida | $62,440 | $41,270 | $85,620 | 9,120 | 1.22 |
| Georgia | $64,010 | $40,390 | $84,040 | 4,380 | 1.19 |
| Hawaii | $82,640 | $39,370 | $94,010 | 290 | 0.6 |
| Idaho | $72,550 | $48,430 | $87,210 | 1,100 | 1.7 |
| Illinois | $64,650 | $48,560 | $91,890 | 3,570 | 0.78 |
| Indiana | $64,240 | $51,350 | $80,600 | 2,680 | 1.11 |
| Iowa | $60,540 | $47,280 | $75,100 | 950 | 0.81 |
| Kansas | $60,600 | $44,720 | $76,880 | 1,200 | 1.1 |
| Kentucky | $60,490 | $41,440 | $79,980 | 1,440 | 0.96 |
| Louisiana | $57,370 | $36,580 | $74,650 | 2,230 | 1.53 |
| Maine | $62,860 | $48,330 | $80,380 | 470 | 0.98 |
| Maryland | $68,970 | $45,590 | $85,820 | 1,880 | 0.9 |
| Massachusetts | $80,870 | $60,350 | $109,550 | 2,220 | 0.81 |
| Michigan | $63,320 | $43,690 | $79,550 | 3,840 | 1.15 |
| Minnesota | $80,210 | $62,820 | $98,470 | 1,770 | 0.8 |
| Mississippi | $49,810 | $38,800 | $66,300 | 1,110 | 1.26 |
| Missouri | $61,120 | $44,930 | $78,410 | 2,100 | 0.95 |
| Montana | $60,970 | $37,690 | $79,330 | 490 | 1.26 |
| Nebraska | $63,880 | $49,870 | $79,350 | 770 | 0.99 |
| Nevada | $75,480 | $48,330 | $102,430 | 1,110 | 0.94 |
| New Hampshire | $75,040 | $56,760 | $87,560 | 370 | 0.71 |
| New Jersey | $77,200 | $48,270 | $100,490 | 2,780 | 0.86 |
| New Mexico | $51,780 | $42,430 | $78,650 | 540 | 0.83 |
| New York | $79,550 | $53,680 | $105,330 | 6,540 | 0.89 |
| North Carolina | $60,920 | $45,990 | $78,650 | 4,400 | 1.18 |
| North Dakota | $61,640 | $50,440 | $72,120 | 370 | 1.14 |
| Ohio | $62,420 | $48,110 | $80,640 | 3,730 | 0.89 |
| Oklahoma | $61,190 | $49,200 | $77,320 | 1,940 | 1.51 |
| Oregon | $81,390 | $59,930 | $97,330 | 1,090 | 0.74 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,680 | $47,130 | $77,760 | 4,490 | 0.98 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,600 | $25,500 | $45,380 | 1,080 | 1.52 |
| Rhode Island | $74,130 | $49,910 | $101,850 | 240 | 0.63 |
| South Carolina | $62,160 | $38,830 | $75,210 | 2,680 | 1.54 |
| South Dakota | $59,870 | $38,450 | $75,470 | 600 | 1.73 |
| Tennessee | $60,530 | $47,620 | $75,920 | 3,310 | 1.34 |
| Texas | $65,220 | $39,950 | $92,580 | 10,160 | 0.96 |
| Utah | $62,720 | $45,760 | $87,430 | 1,170 | 0.89 |
| Vermont | $60,660 | $49,510 | $88,460 | 140 | 0.6 |
| Virginia | $67,580 | $47,980 | $102,020 | 1,910 | 0.62 |
| Washington | $77,270 | $55,270 | $103,690 | 2,510 | 0.94 |
| West Virginia | $49,110 | $38,010 | $72,010 | 580 | 1.1 |
| Wisconsin | $74,120 | $59,410 | $86,670 | 2,180 | 0.98 |
| Wyoming | $58,850 | $45,080 | $79,920 | 210 | 1 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for surgical technologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 7,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for surgical technologists
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Pathology/Pathologist Assistant CIP 51.0811
- Surgical Technology/Technologist CIP 51.0909
- Sterile Processing Technology/Technician CIP 51.1012
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
- Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
- Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.
- Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
- Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
- Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
- Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.
- Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
Technology skills
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Database software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Email software
- Google Drive
- Graphics software
- Nursing documentation software
- Patient scheduling software
- Patient tracking software
- Supply documentation software
- Surgery workflow communication software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Service Orientation, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing.
Common job titles: Central Supply Technician (Central Supply Tech), Certified Scrub Technician (Certified Scrub Tech), CST (Certified Surgical Technologist), OR Surgical Tech (Operating Room Surgical Technician), OR Tech (Operating Room Technician), OR Technologist (Operating Room Technologist), Scrub Technician (Scrub Tech), Scrub Technologist (Scrub Tech), Surgical Scrub Technician (Surgical Scrub Tech), Surgical Scrub Technologist (Surgical Scrub Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do surgical technologists make?
The national median annual wage for surgical technologists was $64,650 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $45,940 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $96,940. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do surgical technologists need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is surgical technologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of surgical technologists to change +5.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 7,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay surgical technologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Hawaii ($82,640), Oregon ($81,390), California ($81,310). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.