Surgical Technologists: Career Profile
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.
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What Do Surgical Technologists Do?
Typical responsibilities of surgical technologists include:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective surgical technologists combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies 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
How Many Surgical Technologists Are There?
The U.S. employs around 1,876,778 surgical technologists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -3.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Surgical Technologists Make?
| 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 |
Compensation varies 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 |
Where Surgical Technologists Earn the Most
Earnings 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 |
Top Industries Employing Surgical Technologists
Most surgical technologists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| 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:
Tools and Technology
- 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)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of 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
How to Become Surgical Technologists
Entry-level surgical technologists positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating 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 commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
3 programs across 3 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes 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).
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