Surgical techs have a unique opportunity to work alongside a surgeon in the operating room. In addition to having great learning opportunities, making a real difference for patients, and having a good schedule, surgical techs also earn a decent salary.
So what is the average surgical tech salary?
On average, surgical techs in the United States earn $55,960 per year or $26.90 per hour, according to the BLS.
Of course, this varies based on location, years of experience, certifications, type of surgical center, and more.
This guide will go over how much a surgical tech earns, how their salary compares to other healthcare jobs, and how to make more money as a surgical tech.
Surgical Tech Salary Overview
On average, surgical techs make $55,960 per year or $26.90 per hour.
A surgical tech with no experience who lives in a rural area may start out making as little as $38,860 per year, or $18.68 per hour.
Scrub techs (another name for surgical tech) who have more experience and live in large cities with higher average pay can make as much as $78,560 per year or $37.77 per hour.
Surgical techs also have a great job outlook, with 5% growth expected between 2022 and 2032, which is higher than the average of all jobs in the U.S.
Like any other job, many things affect surgical tech salaries, including:
- Certification. Earning a certification allows surgical techs to ask for a higher starting salary. According to job postings on Salary.com, certified surgical techs earn about 10% more than uncertified surgical techs.
- Years of experience. Almost every career pays more for more experienced employees. As people gain experience in the same job or industry, they can usually expect about a 3% increase per year.
- Type of facility you work in. Surgical techs can make more money in certain areas than others. For example, cardiovascular surgical techs usually earn more than technologists who work in general surgery. Typically, the more specialized a technologist is, the more they will be paid. You can learn more about where surgical techs work and average salaries in each here.
- What location you work in. Typically, surgical technologists who work in big cities or urban areas earn more than those who work in rural areas with smaller hospitals. In addition, larger and busier surgical centers also pay more.
Surgical Tech Salary by State
Surgical Tech Salary by City
Do Surgical Techs Make Good Money? Scrub Tech Salary vs. Other Similar Professions
Surgical techs typically need a certification or associate degree and often earn more money than many other healthcare workers with similar levels of training and education.
Here is how surgical tech salaries ($55,960) compare to average salaries of other healthcare professions:
- Surgical assistant – $57,290 (surgical tech vs. surgical assistant)
- Certified nursing assistants – $35,740
- Medical assistants – $38,270
- Pharmacy Technicians – $38,720
- Phlebotomists – $38,530
- Dental assistants – $44,820
- Licensed vocational nurses – $54,620
Other similar occupations that earn a similar salary or more than surgical techs include clinical laboratory technicians who earn $57,380 per year and radiology technicians who earn $67,180 per year.
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Better Surgical Tech Salary
Becoming a surgical tech is a great way to get involved in the medical field, work closely with surgeons, learn about human anatomy, and have a positive impact on people’s lives.
However, pay is also an important factor to consider with any type of career.
If you want to work as a surgical technologist with a high salary, there are some things you can do to earn more money.
1) Get Certified
There are several surgical technologist certifications you can pursue that can help you get a job and become qualified to work.
You can get a surgical tech certification called the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or the Tech in Surgery-Certified (TS-C) offered through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT).
These certifications can not only help you enter the workforce with more confidence but allow you to ask for a higher salary and better job opportunities.
Costs of surgical tech programs vary widely, so be sure to do your research to find the most cost effective option before applying for one.
Here at Stepful, we have an online surgical tech certification program and a Sacramento surgical tech program that are much more affordable and faster than traditional options.
2) Specialize
After earning a basic surgical technologist certification, many surgical techs choose to specialize. Surgical techs can specialize in reconstructive surgeries, cardiac and thoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, and many others.
3) Become a First Assistant
As surgical technologists get more experience, they can become surgical first assistants. These techs often need additional training and have more advanced skill requirements, like helping surgeons control blood flow and holding organs and tissues out of the way.
4) Stay on Top of the Industry and New Technologies
Staying up to date on new technologies and techniques is one of the best ways to make yourself a valuable member of the surgical team. Subscribing to journal articles and completing continuing education courses can help you be the best surgical technologist you can be.
5) Ask for Advancement Opportunities
Once you have earned certification, gotten some experience, and shown your employer that you are willing to work hard and stay on top of the latest surgical technician technologies, you will be in a good position to ask your leaders for an advancement opportunity.
Some of the more common advancement opportunities include becoming a manager for other surgical technologists or a trainer for new hires.
6) Relocate
Similarly to all other occupations, surgical technologists are paid more highly in some cities than others. However, it is important to keep in mind that the cost of living often rises as average salaries rise.
When looking for new jobs, make sure you consider how much your living expenses will be in comparison to how much money you will be earning. Also, check the surgical tech job description to see what compensation is offered.
7) Consider Traveling
Traveling surgical techs are paid more than those who have permanent positions.
If you don’t mind working short contracts and moving around different locations, becoming a traveling contract worker might be a good option for you.
Travel surgical techs typically work 8 to 12-week contracts before having to find another job or renew their contract.
8) Move to a Larger Hospital
Larger surgical centers that do higher volumes of surgeries are more likely to pay more than smaller hospitals.
In addition, larger hospitals often have more resources to provide better benefits, have more equipment available, and allow for more time off and flexibility.
9) Work the Odd Hours
Many healthcare jobs require employees to work night and weekend hours.
While these are often considered the more undesirable hours, most organizations offer a pay differential for working evenings, nights, and weekends.
Differentials can range from anywhere between 5% to 25%, depending on where you work.
10) Become an Instructor
With some experience, you can become a surgical tech instructor for a college or certification program.
Becoming a teacher for one of these programs typically requires at least three years of experience working in the operating room as a surgical technologist.
