How Much Do Surgical Techs Make?
How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make?
Surgical technicians, also commonly referred to as operating room technicians, surgical techs, or scrub techs, assist surgeons before, during, and after a surgical procedure. The average surgical tech salary is $60,610 per year, as of the BLS’s most recent data from May 2023.
Nurses Helping Nurses: Why You Can Trust Nurse.org
As the leading educational website for nurses by nurses, Nurse.org is committed to editorial integrity and data-driven analysis.
✔ Content written by 80+ licensed, practicing nurses who are experts in their respective specialties. Learn more about our nurse contributors.
✔ Transparent, trusted salary data sources from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), Payscale, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor. Learn more about our data sources.
✔ Consistent article updates to ensure they are as relevant and accurate as possible, utilizing the latest data and information when it becomes available.
Surgical Tech Salary by State
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $112,962 | $9,413 | $2,172 | $54.31 |
| Alaska | $112,406 | $9,367 | $2,161 | $54.04 |
| North Dakota | $112,389 | $9,365 | $2,161 | $54.03 |
| Massachusetts | $111,047 | $9,253 | $2,135 | $53.39 |
| Hawaii | $110,015 | $9,167 | $2,115 | $52.89 |
| Washington | $107,487 | $8,957 | $2,067 | $51.68 |
| Nevada | $106,280 | $8,856 | $2,043 | $51.10 |
| South Dakota | $106,220 | $8,851 | $2,042 | $51.07 |
| Colorado | $104,887 | $8,740 | $2,017 | $50.43 |
| Rhode Island | $104,629 | $8,719 | $2,012 | $50.30 |
| New York | $99,697 | $8,308 | $1,917 | $47.93 |
| Delaware | $98,598 | $8,216 | $1,896 | $47.40 |
| Vermont | $97,356 | $8,113 | $1,872 | $46.81 |
| Virginia | $97,172 | $8,097 | $1,868 | $46.72 |
| Illinois | $97,143 | $8,095 | $1,868 | $46.70 |
| Maryland | $95,489 | $7,957 | $1,836 | $45.91 |
| Nebraska | $93,450 | $7,787 | $1,797 | $44.93 |
| Missouri | $92,871 | $7,739 | $1,785 | $44.65 |
| California | $92,615 | $7,717 | $1,781 | $44.53 |
| South Carolina | $92,071 | $7,672 | $1,770 | $44.26 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,330 | $7,610 | $1,756 | $43.91 |
| New Jersey | $91,143 | $7,595 | $1,752 | $43.82 |
| Oklahoma | $90,500 | $7,541 | $1,740 | $43.51 |
| Maine | $90,453 | $7,537 | $1,739 | $43.49 |
| Wisconsin | $90,262 | $7,521 | $1,735 | $43.40 |
| North Carolina | $90,170 | $7,514 | $1,734 | $43.35 |
| New Hampshire | $88,816 | $7,401 | $1,708 | $42.70 |
| Idaho | $88,596 | $7,383 | $1,703 | $42.59 |
| Texas | $88,000 | $7,333 | $1,692 | $42.31 |
| Kentucky | $87,715 | $7,309 | $1,686 | $42.17 |
| Wyoming | $87,407 | $7,283 | $1,680 | $42.02 |
| Minnesota | $87,181 | $7,265 | $1,676 | $41.91 |
| Michigan | $86,830 | $7,235 | $1,669 | $41.75 |
| New Mexico | $86,691 | $7,224 | $1,667 | $41.68 |
| Indiana | $86,252 | $7,187 | $1,658 | $41.47 |
| Ohio | $84,743 | $7,061 | $1,629 | $40.74 |
| Arizona | $84,468 | $7,039 | $1,624 | $40.61 |
| Connecticut | $84,039 | $7,003 | $1,616 | $40.40 |
| Mississippi | $83,449 | $6,954 | $1,604 | $40.12 |
| Iowa | $83,345 | $6,945 | $1,602 | $40.07 |
| Montana | $83,195 | $6,932 | $1,599 | $40.00 |
| Arkansas | $82,892 | $6,907 | $1,594 | $39.85 |
| Alabama | $82,157 | $6,846 | $1,579 | $39.50 |
| Utah | $80,963 | $6,746 | $1,556 | $38.92 |
| Tennessee | $80,904 | $6,742 | $1,555 | $38.90 |
| Kansas | $78,574 | $6,547 | $1,511 | $37.78 |
| Georgia | $76,536 | $6,378 | $1,471 | $36.80 |
| Louisiana | $76,117 | $6,343 | $1,463 | $36.59 |
| West Virginia | $70,535 | $5,877 | $1,356 | $33.91 |
| Florida | $67,735 | $5,644 | $1,302 | $32.57 |
Via ZipRecruiter
Surgical Tech Salary by Years of Experience
Surgical techs have the ability to increase their hourly wage based on experience. According to Payscale.com, surgical technicians earn the following,
- Less than 1 years of experience earn an average hourly salary of $19.08
- 1-4 years of experience earn an average hourly salary of $21.34
- 5-9 years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $23.49
- 10-19 years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $26.01
- 20+ years of experience earns an average hourly salary of $28.51
Surgical Technician Salary by Work Setting
Surgical technicians typically work in locations that have operating rooms or perform surgical procedures. The largest employer of surgical technologists is hospitals. According to the BLS, surgical technicians earn the following salaries in these most common locations:
- Outpatient care centers: $61,320
- Hospitals; state, local, and private: $61,110
- Administrative and support services: $60,170
- Offices of physicians: $58,030
- Offices of dentists: $46,580
How to Make More Money as a Surgical Tech
If you’re interested in increasing your earnings potential as a surgical technician, you have several good options. These include
Negotiation
This might be uncomfortable for some surgical technicians but is one of the most effective methods of getting an increase in pay. Surgical technicians with experience and increased levels of training will find an easier time negotiating for a higher salary.
The key to an effective negotiation is to do your research. Ensure you know what other facilities in your area are paying for people with your qualifications.
Overtime
Surgical technicians who work overtime are entitled to increased pay for their additional work hours. Generally, this is considered time and a half pay. In most cases, this means working over 40 hours a week.
The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires that all "non-exempt" employees receive overtime pay equal to one-and-one-half times their regular rate of pay for every hour over 40 hours worked during a work week.
Per Diem or Contract Employment
Per diem and contract employees earn a higher wage than staff members. They are paid a premium for working less desirable shifts and having shifts canceled at any given time.
Per diem employees are not offered guaranteed hours so remember that a paycheck most likely will not be consistent.
Shift Differential
Surgical technicians may have an opportunity to earn more income without increasing the number of hours they work. A shift differential means making increased per-hour pay for working nights, weekends, or holidays.
Hazard Pay
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, hazard pay means “additional pay for performing a hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship.” It may also include work duty that causes “extreme physical discomfort and distress.”
Is Becoming a Surgical Technician Worth it?
All surgical technicians are required to have either a certification or associate’s degree from an accredited program. Programs typically take 12 to 24 months and are offered at community colleges and vocational schools, as well as some major universities and hospitals. The program price can vary from as little as $500 upwards of $5,000.
Regardless of where the program is completed, ensure that it is accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
In addition, most healthcare systems will require surgical technicians to have a BLS or CPR certification.
Salaries of Related Nursing Careers vs Surgical Techs
Radiologic Technologists
According to the BLS, the median annual wage for radiologic technologists was $76,020 in May 2023. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,470, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $112,420.
Ultrasound Technologists
According to the BLS, the national average for ultrasound technicians was $80,850 in May 2023. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $63,680, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $116,300.
Cardiovascular Technician
According to the BLS, the median annual wage for cardiovascular technologists and technicians was $66,170 in May 2023. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,620, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $105,140.
MRI Technician
According to the BLS, the median annual wage for MRI technologists was $83,740 in May 2023. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,470, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $112,420.
Surgical Tech Salary FAQs
