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Top 5 Highest and Lowest Paying States for Surgical Tech Jobs in the USWhat is the average incentive bonus for a Surgical Tech Job?Employed vs. self-employed Surgical Tech JobsHow to do an effective Surgical Tech job searchMost-common benefits for a Surgical TechFrequently Asked QuestionsA surgical technician, also known as a surgical technologist or operating room technician, is a vital member of the surgical team. They are responsible for ensuring that the operating room is ready for procedures and that surgeries run smoothly and safely. Their duties include preparing and sterilizing surgical instruments, organizing the operating room, maintaining sterile conditions, and assisting surgeons during procedures by handing them instruments and anticipating their needs. Surgical technicians are also responsible for ensuring patient safety by following strict infection control measures and accurately accounting for surgical supplies and instruments.
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 expected to result in approximately 5,600 job openings per year due to the replacement of retiring workers and growing healthcare demands.
Top 5 Highest and Lowest Paying States for 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, costs of living, and regional economic conditions. According to Zippia, the highest and lowest-paying states for surgical techs are as follows:
Top 5 Highest Paying States for Surgical Techs:
- Illinois
- Nevada
- Alaska
- California
- New York
Top 5 Lowest Paying States for Surgical Techs:
- Pennslyvania
- Kentucky
- Florida
- Iowa
- South Dakota
The state data varies between resources.
Historical Data (Salary Outlook) For Salary Median
** Chart from https://www.zippia.com/salaries/surgical-technician/Median salary, Entry-level salary, Average Salary
The median salary for a surgical technician in the U.S. is $52,000 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 often earn higher wages.
An entry-level salary for those just starting their career is around $36,000-$40,000. The average salary of a surgical technician across all levels of experience ranges from $48,000 to $53,000. 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 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 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 Surgical Tech Job?
The average bonus for a surgical technician is between $500 and $3,000 annually. A surgical technician may be eligible for a sign-on bonus as a new hire in a high-demand locations. They may earn performance-based bonuses tied to individual or team productivity, 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.
Employed vs. self-employed Surgical Tech Jobs
Salaries vary between employed and self-employed surgical techs. Employed techs have a stable income, health insurance, retirement plans, a CME allowance, and paid time off. They usually work for a hospital system 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 surgical tech may have diverse experience from working in different healthcare settings and surgical procedures. They are also responsible for paying their own income taxes.
How to do an effective 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 Surgical Tech
Being a 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 the increasing 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 obtaining specialized certifications (e.g., Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)), pursuing higher-level roles like Surgical First Assistant, 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.
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 $48,000 and $53,000 per year. This figure can vary depending on location, years of experience, employment situation, certification, and the type of healthcare facility. Those specializing in cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, or robotic surgery may earn more.
Do surgical tech salaries vary by geographical location?
Yes, technician salaries vary significantly by geographical location. Surgical techs in urban areas or states like California, Alaska, and Massachusetts tend to earn higher wages compared to those in rural areas.
How does experience affect a 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 surgical techs to earn additional income?
Yes, there are opportunities for surgical techs to earn additional income when they obtain certification. They may be eligible for sign-on, performance, and retention bonuses.
What benefits typically accompany an employed 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.