What You Need to Know About Surgical Technologist
Position Description 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 surgeon’s assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
What Do Surgical Technologists Do On a Daily Basis?
- Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.
- Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.
- Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
- Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.
- Maintain supply of fluids, such as plasma, saline, blood, or glucose, for use during operations.
- Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
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Things a Surgical Technologist Should Know How to Do
These are the skills Surgical Technologists say are the most useful in their careers:
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles
- Surgical Scrub Technician
- Surgeon’s Assistant
- Anesthesia Technician
- Certified Surgical Technician
- Certified Surgical Tech/First Assistant
What Kind of Surgical Technologist Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 107,700 jobs for Surgical Technologist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 12,600 new jobs for Surgical Technologist by 2026. There will be an estimated 10,000 positions for Surgical Technologist per year.
The states with the most job growth for Surgical Technologist are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Illinois, Rhode Island, or Connecticut. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Surgical Technologist Average Salary
The salary for Surgical Technologists ranges between about $32,870 and $69,170 a year.
Surgical Technologists who work in Alaska, California, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Surgical Technologists make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,630 |
| Alaska | $63,930 |
| Arizona | $50,680 |
| Arkansas | $42,720 |
| California | $60,940 |
| Colorado | $53,620 |
| Connecticut | $56,750 |
| Delaware | $47,250 |
| District of Columbia | $59,280 |
| Florida | $44,030 |
| Georgia | $44,830 |
| Hawaii | $54,240 |
| Idaho | $51,330 |
| Illinois | $49,730 |
| Indiana | $45,640 |
| Iowa | $41,080 |
| Kansas | $42,290 |
| Kentucky | $45,520 |
| Louisiana | $39,990 |
| Maine | $46,450 |
| Maryland | $56,130 |
| Massachusetts | $55,440 |
| Michigan | $43,280 |
| Minnesota | $58,630 |
| Mississippi | $39,700 |
| Missouri | $43,070 |
| Montana | $49,440 |
| Nebraska | $45,280 |
| Nevada | $59,040 |
| New Hampshire | $50,660 |
| New Jersey | $53,740 |
| New Mexico | $44,110 |
| New York | $55,310 |
| North Carolina | $43,940 |
| North Dakota | $45,000 |
| Ohio | $47,400 |
| Oklahoma | $41,800 |
| Oregon | $54,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,940 |
| Rhode Island | $50,700 |
| South Carolina | $39,970 |
| South Dakota | $40,970 |
| Tennessee | $43,860 |
| Texas | $49,410 |
| Utah | $44,300 |
| Vermont | $43,880 |
| Virginia | $50,790 |
| Washington | $58,320 |
| West Virginia | $37,390 |
| Wisconsin | $53,870 |
| Wyoming | $43,430 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Surgical Technologists
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Surgical Technologists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Database software
- MEDITECH software
- Graphics software
- Google Drive
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Internet browser software
- Patient tracking software
- Nursing documentation software
- Patient scheduling software
- Supply documentation software
- Surgery workflow communication software
Becoming a Surgical Technologist
What education is needed to be a Surgical Technologist?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Are you already one of the many Surgical Technologist in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
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