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Certified Surgical Technologist Job DescriptionTop 5 Highest and Lowest Paying States for Certified Surgical Tech Jobs in the USTop 5 Highest Paying States for Certified Surgical Techs:Top 5 Lowest Paying States for Certified Surgical Techs:Historical Data (Salary Outlook) For Salary MedianMedian salary, Entry-level salary, Average-salaryAverage Certified Surgical Tech Salary by State (for non-traveling tech)Average Certified Surgical Tech Job Salary by State (for traveling tech)What is the average incentive bonus for a Certified Surgical Tech Job?Employed vs. self-employed Certified Surgical Tech JobsHow to do an effective Certified Surgical Tech job searchMost-common benefits for a Certified Surgical TechFrequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the average salary of a surgical tech in the U.S.?Do certified surgical tech salaries vary by geographical location?How does experience affect a certified surgical tech’s salary?Are there opportunities for certified surgical techs to earn additional income?What benefits typically accompany an employed certified surgical tech’s salary?Certified Surgical Technologist Job Description
A Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) is a healthcare professional who plays a critical role in the operating room by assisting surgeons, nurses, and other medical personnel during surgical procedures. Their primary responsibilities include preparing the operating room, ensuring a sterile environment, and handling instruments and supplies for a safe and efficient surgery. Certification is typically granted by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) after passing an exam.
Though certification costs time and money upfront, it can lead to higher starting salaries, faster promotions, and access to more specialized, higher-paying roles. Some states require certification from surgical techs
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for surgical technologists is projected to grow by 6% from 2021 to 2031, which is average growth when compared to other occupations. This growth is due to an aging population, advances in innovation like robotic surgery which requires assistance, and an increase in procedures at outpatient settings.
Top 5 Highest and Lowest Paying States for Certified Surgical Tech Jobs in the US
Specific salary data varies by state and over time. The salary for a surgical tech is influenced by the demand for techs, cost of living, and regional economic conditions. The pay difference between a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and a non-certified Surgical Technologist (ST)typically ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 annually, depending on location, employer preferences, and demand.
According to Zippia, the highest and lowest-paying states for surgical techs are as follows:
Top 5 Highest Paying States for Certified Surgical Techs:
1. Illinois
2. Nevada
3. Alaska
4. California
5. New York
Top 5 Lowest Paying States for Certified Surgical Techs:
1. Pennsylvania
2. Kentucky
3. Florida
4. Iowa
5. South Dakota
The state data varies between resources.
Historical Data (Salary Outlook) For Salary Median
** Chart from https://www.zippia.com/salaries/surgical-technician/CSTs can expect to make between $2000-$5000 more per year than a non-certified tech.
Median salary, Entry-level salary, Average-salary
The median salary for a surgical technician in the U.S. is $50,110 but is influenced by their experience, location, certification, and specialization. Those with advanced certifications, experience in specific surgical fields (like orthopedic or cardiac surgery), or who work in specialized surgery centers or outpatient surgical centers often earn higher wages.
An entry-level salary for those just starting their career is around $37,000-$41,000. The average salary of a surgical technician across all levels of experience ranges from $53,000 to $56,000. A traveling surgical technician may receive a higher hourly rate because of their temporary job status. Non-traveling techs who are working in a permanent position may have variations in salary based on specialization, geographic location, type of healthcare institution, certification, and expertise level.
Average Certified Surgical Tech Salary by State (for non-traveling tech)
| State | Annual Salary | Weekly Salary | Hourly Wage |
| Alabama | $45,561 | $876 | $21.90 |
| Alaska | $61,068 | $1,174 | $29.36 |
| Arizona | $56,626 | $1,088 | $27.22 |
| Arkansas | $50,813 | $977 | $24.43 |
| California | $68,117 | $1,309 | $32.75 |
| Colorado | $52,578 | $1,011 | $25.28 |
| Connecticut | $55,703 | $1,071 | $26.78 |
| Delaware | $51,265 | $985 | $24.65 |
| Florida | $46,358 | $891.5 | $22.29 |
| Georgia | $54,174 | $1,041 | $26.05 |
| Hawaii | $56,593 | $1,088 | $27.21 |
| Idaho | $58,405 | $1,123 | $28.08 |
| Illinois | $59,212 | $1,138 | $28.47 |
| Indiana | $43,856 | $843 | $21.08 |
| Iowa | $41,365 | $795 | $19.89 |
| Kansas | $53,444 | $1,027 | $25.69 |
| Kentucky | $43,424 | $835 | $20.88 |
| Louisiana | $50,372 | $968 | $24.22 |
| Maine | $53,903 | $1,036 | $25.91 |
| Maryland | $54,119 | $1,040 | $26.02 |
| Massachusetts | $55,017 | $1,058 | $26.45 |
| Michigan | $54,902 | $1,055 | $26.40 |
| Minnesota | $54,683 | $1,051 | $26.29 |
| Mississippi | $55,617 | $1,069 | $26.74 |
| Missouri | $52,411 | $1,007 | $25.20 |
| Montana | $48,374 | $930 | $23.26 |
| Nebraska | $44,375 | $853 | $21.33 |
| Nevada | $64,672 | $1,243 | $31.09 |
| New Hampshire | $55,489 | $1,067 | $26.68 |
| New Jersey | $58,177 | $1,118 | $27.97 |
| New Mexico | $46,331 | $890 | $22.27 |
| New York | $64,829 | $1,246 | $31.17 |
| North Carolina | $46,414 | $892 | $22.31 |
| North Dakota | $46,125 | $887 | $22.18 |
| Ohio | $45,012 | $865 | $21.64 |
| Oklahoma | $52,837 | $1,016 | $25.40 |
| Oregon | $57,859 | $1,112 | $27.82 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,597 | $799 | $20.00 |
| Rhode Island | $58,155 | $1,118 | $27.96 |
| South Carolina | $48,712 | $936 | $23.42 |
| South Dakota | $44,356 | $853 | $21.32 |
| Tennessee | $50,432 | $969 | $24.25 |
| Texas | $51,845 | $997 | $24.93 |
| Utah | $45,253 | $870 | $21.76 |
| Vermont | $52,926 | $1,017 | $25.45 |
| Virginia | $51,095 | $982 | $24.56 |
| Washington | $57,414 | $1,104 | $27.60 |
| West Virginia | $45,075 | $866 | $21.67 |
| Wisconsin | $52,453 | $1,008 | $25.22 |
| Wyoming | $55,076 | $1,059 | $26.48 |
Average Certified Surgical Tech Job Salary by State (for traveling tech)
| State | Annual Salary | Weekly Salary | Hourly Wage |
| Alabama | $89,930 | $1,729 | $43.24 |
| Alaska | $98,122 | $1,886 | $47.17 |
| Arizona | $92,461 | $1,778 | $44.45 |
| Arkansas | $74,379 | $1,430 | $35.76 |
| California | $86,993 | $1,672 | $41.82 |
| Colorado | $94,436 | $1,816 | $45.40 |
| Connecticut | $88,228 | $1,696 | $42.42 |
| Delaware | $89,539 | $1,721 | $43.05 |
| Florida | $74,142 | $1,425 | $35.65 |
| Georgia | $83,776 | $1,611 | $40.28 |
| Hawaii | $95,104 | $1,828 | $45.72 |
| Idaho | $83,021 | $1,596 | $39.91 |
| Illinois | $87,164 | $1,676 | $41.91 |
| Indiana | $94,413 | $1,815 | $45.39 |
| Iowa | $88,148 | $1,695 | $42.38 |
| Kansas | $82,112 | $1,579 | $39.48 |
| Kentucky | $78,306 | $1,505 | $37.65 |
| Louisiana | $80,923 | $1,556 | $38.91 |
| Maine | $103,643 | $1,993 | $49.83 |
| Maryland | $86,792 | $1,669 | $41.73 |
| Massachusetts | $98,677 | $1,897 | $47.44 |
| Michigan | $78,246 | $1,504 | $37.62 |
| Minnesota | $92,687 | $1,782 | $44.56 |
| Mississippi | $87,224 | $1,677 | $41.94 |
| Missouri | $84,046 | $1,616 | $40.41 |
| Montana | $91,067 | $1,751 | $43.78 |
| Nebraska | $85,163 | $1,637 | $40.94 |
| Nevada | $92,778 | $1,784 | $44.60 |
| New Hampshire | $98,365 | $1,891 | $47.29 |
| New Jersey | $98,253 | $1,889 | $47.24 |
| New Mexico | $92,918 | $1,786 | $44.67 |
| New York | $110,045 | $2,116 | $52.91 |
| North Carolina | $81,483 | $1,566 | $39.17 |
| North Dakota | $96,953 | $1,864 | $46.61 |
| Ohio | $90,300 | $1,736 | $43.41 |
| Oklahoma | $82,474 | $1,586 | $39.65 |
| Oregon | $97,065 | $1,866 | $46.67 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,781 | $1,938 | $48.45 |
| Rhode Island | $89,906 | $1,728 | $43.22 |
| South Carolina | $83,201 | $1,600 | $40.00 |
| South Dakota | $91,631 | $1,762 | $44.05 |
| Tennessee | $86,213 | $1,657 | $41.45 |
| Texas | $82,283 | $1,582 | $39.56 |
| Utah | $85,949 | $1,652 | $41.32 |
| Vermont | $108,253 | $2,081 | $52.05 |
| Virginia | $88,555 | $1,702 | $42.57 |
| Washington | $100,173 | $1,926 | $48.16 |
| West Virginia | $77,834 | $1,496 | $37.42 |
| Wisconsin | $96,691 | $1,859 | $46.49 |
| Wyoming | $96,158 | $1,849 | $46.23 |
What is the average incentive bonus for a Certified Surgical Tech Job?
The average bonus for a certified surgical technician is between $500 and $5,000 annually. A surgical technician may be eligible for a sign-on bonus as a new hire in a high-demand location ($2,000-$10,000). They may earn performance-based bonuses tied to individual or team productivity ($500-$2000), efficiency, or the quality of patient care. A retention bonus may also be offered for staying with a healthcare facility over time in areas that are experiencing a shortage of surgical techs. Travel or Agency CSTs may receive completion bonuses, ranging from $1,000–$5,000 per assignment.
Employed vs. self-employed Certified Surgical Tech Jobs
Salaries vary between employed and self-employed CSTs. Employed techs have a stable income, health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. They usually work for a hospital system or surgery center and have less financial risk. A self-employed tech has a higher earning potential, increased flexibility, but must find their own jobs, and may/may not be provided with healthcare or a retirement plan. A self-employed certified surgical tech may have unique and diverse experience from working in different healthcare settings and surgical procedures. Taxes are taken out for the employed, but the self-employed are responsible for their own taxes.
How to do an effective Certified Surgical Tech job search
It is easy to find a surgical tech position with PRNHealthcare. Find the “allied” link at the top of our website. Use the position job search bar by searching “I am an OR tech” and the location bar to select your state and city of choice.
Most-common benefits for a Certified Surgical Tech
Being a certified surgical tech comes with both professional and personal benefits including:
- High-Demand/Job Security- Surgical technicians are in high demand and steady job growth is projected due to an aging population and an increase in the number of surgeries performed each year.
- Competitive Salary- The salary is competitive with room for growth based on experience, specialization, and certifications.
- Opportunities for Advancement- Surgical technicians can advance their careers by pursuing higher-level roles like Surgical First Assistant, specialized certification or moving into a leadership position.
- Specialization- Surgical techs can choose to specialize in areas such as cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, or robotic surgery, which may come with a higher salary.
- Impact on Patient Care- By assisting in surgeries, you help patients recover from illnesses or injuries, which brings personal satisfaction.
- Team Collaboration- Surgical techs build relationships with a team of healthcare professionals, including surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists.
- Flexibility in Scheduling- Many surgical tech positions offer flexible work schedules, including full-time, part-time, or per diem options.
- Physical Activity- The job requires standing for long periods and moving around which can be physically engaging for those who prefer activity over desk work.
- Leadership- A certified surgical technologist can take on leadership roles to grow their careers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary of a surgical tech in the U.S.?
Recent data suggests the average annual salary for a surgical in the United States is between $53,000 and $56,000 per year. This figure varies depending on location, years of experience, employment situation, certification, and the type of healthcare facility. CSTs typically earn $1–$3 more per hour than a non-certified tech. Those specializing in cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, or robotic surgery may earn more.
Do certified surgical tech salaries vary by geographical location?
Yes, CST salaries vary significantly by geographical location. Surgical techs in urban areas or states like California, Alaska, and Minnesota tend to earn higher wages compared to those in rural areas or the south. Some states like Texas, Indiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina require certification so CSTs are prioritized.
As healthcare evolves, more states may require certification for surgical technologists including California and Florida which have discussed stricter regulations.
How does experience affect a certified surgical tech’s salary?
Experience plays a significant role in the determination of a tech’s salary. Entry-level surgical technicians start with a lower salary, which can increase substantially with experience. Mid-career and experienced techs can earn more if they have specialized skills or in-demand certifications.
Are there opportunities for certified surgical techs to earn additional income?
Yes, there are opportunities for surgical techs to earn additional income with specialization and leadership roles. They may be eligible for sign-on, performance, and retention bonuses. Surgical First Assistants can earn significantly higher pay (up to $10,000–$20,000 more annually).
What benefits typically accompany an employed certified surgical tech’s salary?
In addition to their competitive salary, an employed surgical tech receives a comprehensive benefits package which may include health insurance, retirement plans (a 401(k) or pension), paid time off (PTO), and continuing education allowances. Benefits can significantly enhance the overall compensation package and provide long-term financial stability for an employed tech.