SEO title: Surgical Tech Salary: 7 Powerful Pay Facts for 2026
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Last fact-checked: September 2026
A surgical tech salary can provide solid earnings without requiring the education path of a physician or registered nurse. According to current federal wage data presented by O*NET, the median U.S. wage for surgical technologists was $64,650 per year, or $31.08 per hour, in 2025. Your actual income may be lower or higher depending on your location, experience, credentials, employer, schedule, and specialty.
Surgical technologists—also called surgical techs, operating room technicians, or scrub techs—work alongside surgeons, nurses, and other operating-room professionals. Their job requires technical skill, concentration, physical stamina, and strict attention to sterile procedures. This guide explains current pay data, what changes earnings, how compensation may progress, and whether the career offers good financial value.
Quick answer: The national median surgical tech salary was $64,650 annually or $31.08 hourly in 2025. “Median” means half of workers earned more and half earned less; it is not a guaranteed starting wage.
Surgical Tech Salary at a Glance
| Pay measure | Approximate gross amount |
| Median annual pay | $64,650 |
| Median hourly pay | $31.08 |
| Monthly equivalent | $5,388 |
| Weekly equivalent | $1,243 |
The annual and hourly figures are the 2025 national medians reported by O*NET using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Monthly and weekly amounts are simple gross-pay conversions of the annual median, rounded to the nearest dollar. They do not account for taxes, unpaid time off, overtime, benefits, or differences in scheduled hours.
The national figure is a useful benchmark, but it is not a promise of what every position pays. A new graduate in a lower-cost market may receive less, while an experienced certified surgical technologist working call shifts in a high-wage market may receive more.
- Read more: Surgical Tech Salary
What Does a Surgical Tech Do?
Surgical techs support safe and efficient procedures before, during, and after an operation. O*NET describes the occupation as assisting in operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. Common responsibilities include:
- Preparing the operating room and arranging sterile instruments
- Maintaining the sterile field throughout a procedure
- Passing instruments and supplies to surgeons
- Counting sponges, needles, and instruments before and after surgery
- Positioning and preparing patients as directed
- Handling specimens according to established procedures
- Cleaning, sterilizing, and organizing equipment
- Watching operating-room conditions and anticipating the team’s needs
The work demands accuracy, manual dexterity, dependability, stress tolerance, and close attention to detail.
7 Factors That Influence a Surgical Tech Salary
1. Geographic location
Pay varies by state, city, and labor market. High-cost areas, staffing shortages, unions, or large hospital systems may produce higher nominal wages, but a larger paycheck does not ensure greater purchasing power. Compare local living costs and current metropolitan wage data before relocating.
2. Experience level
New technologists commonly begin below the national median. Experience with complex cases, training duties, flexible scheduling, and consistently reliable performance can strengthen the case for higher pay. Years of service alone do not guarantee a raise.
3. Certification and education
Entry requirements differ by employer and jurisdiction. O*NET respondents most often identified a postsecondary certificate or associate degree for new hires. Some employers prefer or require a recognized credential such as Certified Surgical Technologist. Certification does not guarantee higher pay, so confirm local employer and credentialing requirements before enrolling.
4. Employer and work setting
Hospitals, outpatient centers, physicians’ offices, and specialty facilities have different volumes, schedules, and benefits. Hospitals may offer call, overtime, and night or weekend premiums; outpatient centers may provide more predictable hours. Compare total compensation, not base wage alone.
5. Shift differentials, call, and overtime
Evening, night, on-call, call-back, and overtime pay can raise earnings above the base rate. Rules vary by employer, classification, contract, and law. Request the compensation structure in writing because a high advertised amount may depend on frequent extra shifts.
6. Specialty and case complexity
Cardiovascular, neurosurgery, orthopedics, trauma, transplant, or robotic experience may improve marketability. The value depends on local demand and employer policy; specialized experience does not automatically earn a premium.
7. Employment arrangement
Permanent staff, per diem, contract, and travel roles can have very different compensation structures. Per diem or travel assignments may advertise higher cash rates, but the worker may receive fewer benefits, less schedule stability, or taxable stipends governed by specific rules. A permanent job may include health coverage, retirement contributions, paid leave, tuition assistance, and predictable hours.
When comparing offers, calculate the value of wages, guaranteed hours, insurance, retirement match, paid leave, differentials, reimbursements, and contract terms. Do not compare a travel package’s top-line weekly amount directly with a staff employee’s base wage.
Entry-Level vs. Experienced Surgical Tech Pay
There is no single U.S. entry-level salary. Beginners are often below the occupational median; regional wages, clinical training, credentials, employer needs, and shift availability shape the offer.
An experienced surgical tech may improve earnings by:
- Building competence across multiple service lines
- Learning high-demand procedures and equipment
- Accepting qualified lead, preceptor, call, or difficult-to-fill shift duties
- Maintaining relevant certification and continuing education
- Documenting performance and added responsibilities
- Comparing the full market value of competing offers
Ask employers how experience, certification, call, and differentials affect placement within the advertised range.
Surgical Tech Salary by State and City
Location-based salary pages are useful only when their data year, occupation code, and pay measure are clear. For reliable comparisons, look for Surgical Technologists, SOC 29-2055 in the current Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables. Compare:
- The median or percentile wage—not just the mean
- The date of the dataset
- State and metropolitan estimates
- Local cost of living
- Number and type of employers
- Benefits, differentials, and call expectations
Mean and median are different. The mean is an arithmetic average; the median marks the midpoint and is often clearer for a typical worker.
Is Travel Surgical Tech Pay Higher?
Travel surgical tech positions may show higher weekly compensation than permanent jobs, especially when a facility has an urgent staffing need. Yet the advertised package can combine taxable hourly wages with housing or meal stipends. Eligibility and tax treatment depend on the worker’s circumstances and applicable tax rules.
Before accepting an assignment, request a written breakdown of:
- Taxable hourly wage
- Guaranteed weekly hours
- Overtime and call rates
- Stipends and eligibility requirements
- Housing and travel reimbursements
- Cancellation policy
- Health and retirement benefits
- Contract length and extension terms
Estimate the costs of duplicate housing, travel between assignments, insurance gaps, licensing or credentialing, and unpaid time between contracts. Travel work can be financially attractive for some people, but the headline weekly number is not the same as take-home pay.
Surgical Tech Job Outlook
The occupation has a positive national outlook. O*NET, citing federal projections, reports 115,600 surgical technologist jobs in 2024, projected growth of 5% to 6% from 2024 to 2034, and approximately 7,000 openings per year over that period. Openings reflect both employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.
National growth does not guarantee equal demand in every city. Local hospital expansion, outpatient surgery volume, retirements, training-program supply, and healthcare budgets can all affect hiring.
How to Increase Your Surgical Tech Earning Potential
Verify local requirements
Review state rules and current job postings before choosing a training or certification path. Employer requirements may be stricter than the legal minimum.
Choose training carefully
Compare program accreditation, clinical placement quality, graduation outcomes, credential-exam eligibility, tuition, and total debt. A higher-priced program is not automatically better.
Build broadly useful skills
Competence across several specialties may open more shifts and positions. Learn the equipment and procedures your target employers need while staying within your training and authorized role.
Track measurable contributions
Keep a professional record of certifications, continuing education, specialties, preceptor duties, attendance, and formal recognition. Never record protected patient information. Use this evidence during performance reviews and negotiations.
Compare total compensation
A job paying one dollar more per hour may be less valuable if it has expensive insurance, no retirement match, unreliable hours, or a long commute. Review the complete offer.
Negotiate with current evidence
Use recent federal wage data, local job ranges, and your verified skills. Ask whether the employer can adjust base pay, step placement, sign-on terms, schedule, education support, or paid certification costs. Bonuses often have repayment conditions, so read the agreement carefully.
Is Becoming a Surgical Tech Worth It?
The career may be worthwhile for someone who wants hands-on healthcare work, can function calmly in a high-responsibility environment, and prefers a certificate or associate-degree route over a longer clinical degree. The 2025 national median of $64,650 and positive projected growth make it a practical occupation to investigate.
However, salary should not be the only consideration. Surgical techs may spend long periods standing, work early mornings or nights, take call, encounter stressful emergencies, and follow strict safety protocols. Program cost, local job availability, physical demands, benefits, and advancement options should all be included in the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average surgical tech salary?
The latest national median shown by O*NET is $64,650 per year in 2025. That is a median, not an average: half of surgical technologists earned more and half earned less.
How much does a surgical tech make per hour?
The 2025 national median was $31.08 per hour. Actual hourly pay depends on location, employer, experience, credentials, specialty, and shift.
How much does a surgical tech make per month?
The national annual median converts to about $5,388 per month before taxes and deductions. This is a mathematical estimate, not a guaranteed monthly paycheck.
What is an entry-level surgical tech salary?
There is no universal entry-level figure. New graduates often earn below the national occupational median, but local demand, clinical experience, certification, and shift choice affect the offer.
Do certified surgical techs make more money?
Certification may improve eligibility and negotiating strength, but it does not guarantee higher pay. The effect depends on employer policy, local requirements, experience, and demand.
Which surgical tech specialty pays the most?
No specialty is always highest-paying nationwide. Complex, high-demand specialties may strengthen marketability, but employer pay systems and local shortages determine whether a premium is offered.
Do travel surgical techs make more than staff techs?
Travel packages can offer higher weekly cash compensation, but they may differ in benefits, guaranteed hours, stipends, housing costs, and job stability. Compare the entire package and estimated net income.
Can surgical techs earn overtime pay?
Many positions may offer overtime, call-back pay, or shift differentials. Eligibility and rates depend on the worker’s classification, employer rules, contracts, and applicable law.
Is surgical technology a growing career?
Yes. Federal projections summarized by O*NET indicate 5% to 6% growth from 2024 to 2034 and about 7,000 openings per year.
How can I find accurate surgical tech pay in my area?
Search current BLS wage tables for SOC 29-2055, review local employer pay ranges, and compare the same pay measure and data year. Include benefits and cost of living in your decision.