Surgical Technologists: Career Overview
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Surgical Technologists Perform?
Typical responsibilities of surgical technologists cover:
- Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
- Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
- Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
- Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.
- Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
- Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.
- Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.
- Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
What Surgical Technologists Need to Know
Top surgical technologists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Surgical Technologists Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Cardiovascular Operating Room Technologist (CVOR Technologist)
- Certified Surgical Technician
- Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)
- Operating Room Surgical Technician (OR St)
- Operating Room Surgical Technologist
- Operating Room Technician (OR Tech)
- Operating Room Technologist (OR Tech)
- Scrub Technician
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 1,876,778 surgical technologists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -3.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Surgical Technologists
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $73,045 |
| Hourly median | $35.12 |
| 10th percentile | $46,846 |
| 25th percentile | $59,945 |
| 75th percentile | $86,145 |
| 90th percentile | $99,245 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Surgical Technologists Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $81,120 |
| Connecticut | $80,590 |
| Oregon | $79,410 |
| Alaska | $79,040 |
| Massachusetts | $78,300 |
| Minnesota | $77,950 |
| Nevada | $76,740 |
| Hawaii | $76,200 |
| New York | $75,250 |
| Washington | $73,460 |
| New Jersey | $71,370 |
| Rhode Island | $68,280 |
| Arizona | $67,530 |
| New Hampshire | $67,490 |
| Maryland | $66,550 |
| Wisconsin | $65,870 |
| Colorado | $65,690 |
| District of Columbia | $65,450 |
| Virginia | $63,460 |
| Utah | $63,380 |
| Maine | $63,000 |
| Idaho | $62,930 |
| Vermont | $62,800 |
| Nebraska | $62,670 |
| Texas | $62,640 |
| Illinois | $62,510 |
| Michigan | $62,320 |
| Delaware | $62,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,770 |
| Indiana | $61,610 |
| Florida | $61,030 |
| Georgia | $60,880 |
| South Carolina | $60,780 |
| Montana | $60,610 |
| Missouri | $60,420 |
| Ohio | $60,360 |
| North Dakota | $59,990 |
| North Carolina | $58,710 |
| Kansas | $57,580 |
| Oklahoma | $57,310 |
| Tennessee | $56,370 |
| Wyoming | $54,610 |
| Iowa | $53,920 |
| Arkansas | $53,400 |
| New Mexico | $52,780 |
| South Dakota | $52,400 |
| Kentucky | $52,240 |
| Louisiana | $51,930 |
| Alabama | $48,920 |
| Mississippi | $48,020 |
| West Virginia | $47,700 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,000 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for surgical technologists shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $79,390 | 13.9% | 0.83 |
| New England | $75,940 | 3.9% | 0.85 |
| Middle Atlantic | $69,040 | 14.0% | 0.94 |
| Rocky Mountains | $63,814 | 4.3% | 1.12 |
| Plains States | $62,822 | 6.3% | 0.97 |
| Great Lakes | $62,393 | 14.7% | 1.06 |
| Southwest | $62,277 | 12.7% | 1.03 |
| Southeast | $57,477 | 29.3% | 1.23 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | OR | $103,320 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $103,190 | 670 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $101,820 | 120 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $101,470 | 130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $98,820 | 1,260 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $97,850 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $95,210 | 600 |
| Redding, CA | CA | $94,200 | 50 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of surgical technologists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 108,170 | $62,840 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 4,550 | $61,040 |
| Educational Services | 450 | $70,690 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 210 | $51,180 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 40 | $54,180 |
Surgical Technologists work in the following industries:
Software Surgical Technologists Use
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for surgical technologists reflects the following characteristics:
- Physical Proximity
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
Education and Training
Typical surgical technologists positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Radiation Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Respiratory Therapists (Supplemental)
- Nurse Anesthetists (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
- Pediatric Surgeons (Supplemental)
- Histotechnologists (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring surgical technologists often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
3 programs across 3 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2055.00 (Surgical Technologists).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.