Surgical Tech Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Surgical technologists earn an associate’s degree by completing a two-year training program which includes instruction in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and medical terminology. They also teach about aseptic techniques, the care and safety of patients during surgery, and infection control and prevention. The programs are offered by professional-technical schools, community and junior colleges, vocational schools, universities, and hospitals. In 2006, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) recognized more than 400 accredited training programs. Programs last from 9 to 24 months and lead to a certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree. It requires high school graduation for admission and provides classroom education and supervised clinical experience. Aspiring surgical technologists should take high school courses in health, biology, chemistry, and mathematics.
Training and Education
Workers often find employers are looking for a postsecondary vocational award. Employees, in 16% of cases, have bachelor's degree or higher. After high school, 57% of surgical techs pursued some additional career education. Workers, in 27% of cases, had only a high school education.
Job Overview
Surgical technologists prepare for and assist surgical procedures under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. The team that they work with includes surgeons, anesthesiologists, and circulating nurses. They help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon's assistants. They also hold retractors, cut sutures, help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
Job Requirements
Certified technologists are mostly preferred by employers. They may obtain voluntary professional certification from the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist by graduating from a CAAHEP-accredited program and also passing a national certification examination. Continuing education or re-examination is required to maintain certification, which must be renewed every 4 years. Surgical technologists need manual coordination to operate instruments quickly and must also be conscientious, orderly and emotionally stable to handle the demands of surgeons and doctors.
Nature of Work
Surgical technologists set up an operating room. They wash and sterilize instruments, place sterile linens and solutions and check the proper functioning of the non-sterile equipment. They also prepare patients for surgery, transport patients to the operating room, position them on the table and cover them with surgical drapes. During surgery, they pass instruments and supplies to surgeons and operate other equipment such as lights or suction machines. After surgery, they help transfer patients to the recovery room.
They work in clean, well-lighted and cool environments. They need to stand for long periods and remain alert during operations. At times, they may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights and odors. Most of them work a regular 40-hour week, although they may be on call or work nights, weekends and holidays on a rotating basis.
Area Job Conditions
Employees -of-a-feather seem to flock to Rochester (Minnesota), Owensboro (Kentucky), and Florence (South Carolina). They are less likely to be found around Edison (New Jersey), Des Moines (Iowa), and Tacoma (Washington).
Compensation of surgical techs is best in Bethesda (Maryland), Oakland (California), and Santa Rosa (California), and much worse in Pascagoula (Mississippi), Mobile (Alabama), and Anniston (Alabama).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Surgical techs employed part-time are 21% of the total.
Career Videos
Surgical Techs by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $33,000 | 520 | +57% |
| Decatur | $30,000 | 30 | -6% |
| Dothan | $37,000 | 100 | +185% |
| Huntsville | $39,000 | 280 | +106% |
| Mobile | $29,000 | 170 | +48% |
| Montgomery | $35,000 | 260 | +145% |
| Tuscaloosa | $33,000 | 90 | +60% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $50,000 | 110 | +1% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $42,000 | 30 | -11% |
| Kingman | $41,000 | 90 | +223% |
| Phoenix | $48,000 | 1,100 | -8% |
| Tucson | $45,000 | 340 | +49% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $39,000 | 80 | -40% |
| Fort Smith | $33,000 | 90 | +15% |
| Jonesboro | $34,000 | 60 | +119% |
| Little Rock | $35,000 | 450 | +95% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $40,000 | 190 | +10% |
| Fresno | $47,000 | 150 | -30% |
| Hanford | $39,000 | 60 | +210% |
| Los Angeles | $45,000 | 2,700 | -2% |
| Modesto | $48,000 | 90 | -10% |
| Oakland | $57,000 | 540 | -20% |
| Oxnard | $46,000 | 240 | +21% |
| Riverside | $42,000 | 620 | -24% |
| Sacramento | $54,000 | 530 | -10% |
| Salinas | $48,000 | 130 | +25% |
| San Diego | $50,000 | 770 | -13% |
| San Francisco | $58,000 | 710 | +5% |
| San Jose | $62,000 | 350 | -42% |
| Santa Ana | $47,000 | 860 | -13% |
| Santa Barbara | $46,000 | 170 | +56% |
| Santa Cruz | $46,000 | 60 | +11% |
| Santa Rosa | $54,000 | 120 | +6% |
| Stockton | $46,000 | 170 | +23% |
| Vallejo | $50,000 | 80 | +5% |
| Visalia | $46,000 | 90 | +4% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $50,000 | 150 | +51% |
| Colorado Springs | $47,000 | 130 | -22% |
| Denver | $46,000 | 680 | -20% |
| Fort Collins | $43,000 | 100 | +24% |
| Grand Junction | $47,000 | 90 | +164% |
| Pueblo | $43,000 | 70 | +105% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $44,000 | 250 | -13% |
| Hartford | $51,000 | 290 | -25% |
| Waterbury | $48,000 | 50 | +21% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $41,000 | 40 | +31% |
| Wilmington | $43,000 | 230 | +6% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $44,000 | 1,520 | -8% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $46,000 | 350 | +176% |
| Deltona | $37,000 | 150 | +51% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $38,000 | 360 | -24% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $34,000 | 80 | +70% |
| Gainesville | $36,000 | 220 | +184% |
| Jacksonville | $38,000 | 740 | +82% |
| Lakeland | $36,000 | 220 | +78% |
| Miami | $36,000 | 880 | +32% |
| Naples | $41,000 | 80 | +13% |
| Ocala | $35,000 | 100 | +83% |
| Orlando | $36,000 | 810 | +17% |
| Palm Bay | $36,000 | 140 | +8% |
| Panama City | $34,000 | 90 | +114% |
| Pensacola | $34,000 | 130 | +35% |
| Punta Gorda | $39,000 | 60 | +166% |
| Sarasota | $39,000 | 230 | +41% |
| Sebastian | $37,000 | 60 | +116% |
| Tallahassee | $33,000 | 60 | -43% |
| Tampa | $37,000 | 860 | +11% |
| West Palm Beach | $38,000 | 410 | +17% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $45,000 | 80 | +114% |
| Athens | $37,000 | 110 | +153% |
| Atlanta | $41,000 | 1,330 | -15% |
| Augusta | $37,000 | 220 | +63% |
| Columbus | $34,000 | 130 | +86% |
| Dalton | $35,000 | 30 | -27% |
| Macon | $35,000 | 100 | +77% |
| Savannah | $33,000 | 210 | +118% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $51,000 | 240 | -19% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $42,000 | 260 | +50% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $40,000 | 50 | +16% |
| Champaign | $38,000 | 40 | -38% |
| Chicago | $44,000 | 1,130 | -56% |
| Peoria | $38,000 | 240 | +116% |
| Rockford | $43,000 | 80 | -12% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $38,000 | 70 | +64% |
| Elkhart | $45,000 | 50 | -27% |
| Evansville | $40,000 | 250 | +124% |
| Fort Wayne | $37,000 | 190 | +42% |
| Gary | $43,000 | 200 | +12% |
| Indianapolis | $39,000 | 860 | +42% |
| Kokomo | $36,000 | 30 | +34% |
| Lafayette | $39,000 | 90 | +94% |
| South Bend | $39,000 | 70 | -15% |
| Terre Haute | $38,000 | 40 | -4% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | $37,000 | 110 | -10% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $37,000 | 200 | +4% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $36,000 | 90 | +170% |
| Lexington | $36,000 | 290 | +82% |
| Louisville | $39,000 | 660 | +61% |
| Owensboro | $32,000 | 130 | +366% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $35,000 | 80 | +105% |
| Baton Rouge | $36,000 | 290 | +16% |
| Houma | $35,000 | 70 | +18% |
| Lafayette | $38,000 | 100 | +9% |
| Lake Charles | $38,000 | 70 | +27% |
| Monroe | $33,000 | 80 | +70% |
| New Orleans | $41,000 | 510 | +43% |
| Shreveport | $31,000 | 180 | +54% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston | $36,000 | 70 | +134% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $47,000 | 1,230 | +38% |
| Bethesda | $56,000 | 310 | -21% |
| Cumberland | $41,000 | 60 | +184% |
| Hagerstown | $42,000 | 50 | -18% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $53,000 | 70 | +12% |
| Boston | $49,000 | 1,440 | +22% |
| Lowell | $45,000 | 40 | -48% |
| Peabody | $57,000 | 40 | -38% |
| Pittsfield | $49,000 | 30 | +64% |
| Worcester | $52,000 | 120 | -28% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $43,000 | 480 | +6% |
| Flint | $39,000 | 120 | +44% |
| Grand Rapids | $42,000 | 240 | -5% |
| Holland | $40,000 | 50 | -17% |
| Kalamazoo | $41,000 | 110 | +26% |
| Warren | $41,000 | 420 | -43% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $48,000 | 140 | +68% |
| Minneapolis | $48,000 | 850 | -30% |
| Rochester | $53,000 | 350 | +440% |
| St Cloud | $46,000 | 120 | +100% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $33,000 | 170 | +150% |
| Jackson | $36,000 | 370 | +120% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau | $38,000 | 60 | +130% |
| Columbia | $38,000 | 90 | +81% |
| Joplin | $35,000 | 60 | +23% |
| Kansas City | $39,000 | 720 | +4% |
| Springfield | $35,000 | 250 | +100% |
| St Joseph | 50 | +65% | |
| St Louis | $40,000 | 750 | -17% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $42,000 | 90 | +72% |
| Missoula | $44,000 | 80 | +157% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $39,000 | 170 | +63% |
| Omaha | $40,000 | 360 | +14% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $52,000 | 540 | -6% |
| Reno | $49,000 | 160 | +28% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $44,000 | 70 | +7% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $43,000 | 70 | -25% |
| Camden | $43,000 | 220 | -38% |
| Edison | $43,000 | 320 | -54% |
| Newark | $45,000 | 390 | -43% |
| Trenton | $42,000 | 80 | -47% |
| Vineland | $38,000 | 50 | +38% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $37,000 | 240 | -7% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $35,000 | 280 | -8% |
| Binghamton | $41,000 | 100 | +40% |
| Buffalo | $45,000 | 280 | -25% |
| Nassau | $52,000 | 590 | -32% |
| New York | $47,000 | 2,910 | -18% |
| Poughkeepsie | $46,000 | 160 | -2% |
| Rochester | $35,000 | 280 | -18% |
| Syracuse | $42,000 | 240 | +15% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $36,000 | 120 | +4% |
| Charlotte | $38,000 | 750 | +29% |
| Durham | $42,000 | 240 | +31% |
| Fayetteville | $42,000 | 140 | +73% |
| Greensboro | $37,000 | 240 | +1% |
| Hickory | $38,000 | 150 | +58% |
| Raleigh | $41,000 | 350 | +0% |
| Wilmington | $41,000 | 90 | +2% |
| Winston Salem | $40,000 | 170 | +22% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $33,000 | 90 | +126% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $41,000 | 170 | -21% |
| Canton | $38,000 | 100 | -8% |
| Cincinnati | $40,000 | 720 | +4% |
| Cleveland | $40,000 | 880 | +27% |
| Columbus | $37,000 | 460 | -26% |
| Dayton | $42,000 | 270 | +5% |
| Lima | $40,000 | 50 | +61% |
| Toledo | $39,000 | 200 | +2% |
| Youngstown | $39,000 | 140 | -6% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawton | $29,000 | 60 | +153% |
| Oklahoma City | $35,000 | 650 | +66% |
| Tulsa | $36,000 | 420 | +45% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $45,000 | 40 | +4% |
| Eugene | $47,000 | 110 | +21% |
| Medford | $47,000 | 40 | -16% |
| Portland | $47,000 | 570 | -18% |
| Salem | $42,000 | 80 | -17% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $43,000 | 180 | -22% |
| Erie | $28,000 | 80 | -3% |
| Harrisburg | $41,000 | 210 | -2% |
| Lancaster | $44,000 | 150 | -4% |
| Philadelphia | $42,000 | 730 | -44% |
| Pittsburgh | $37,000 | 870 | +12% |
| Reading | $43,000 | 130 | +20% |
| Scranton | $36,000 | 190 | +10% |
| York | $39,000 | 120 | +4% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $35,000 | 110 | -43% |
| Columbia | $36,000 | 400 | +70% |
| Florence | $37,000 | 260 | +430% |
| Greenville | $36,000 | 320 | +60% |
| Myrtle Beach | $35,000 | 120 | +73% |
| Spartanburg | $36,000 | 60 | -18% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $36,000 | 70 | +81% |
| Sioux Falls | $37,000 | 220 | +145% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $37,000 | 430 | +186% |
| Clarksville | $37,000 | 80 | +65% |
| Cleveland | $36,000 | 40 | +104% |
| Jackson | $38,000 | 50 | +41% |
| Johnson City | $35,000 | 120 | +172% |
| Kingsport | $35,000 | 120 | +55% |
| Knoxville | $35,000 | 560 | +151% |
| Memphis | $37,000 | 790 | +89% |
| Morristown | $33,000 | 40 | +49% |
| Nashville | $41,000 | 1,190 | +137% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | $31,000 | 110 | +187% |
| Amarillo | $36,000 | 150 | +122% |
| Austin | $42,000 | 520 | -3% |
| Beaumont | $41,000 | 130 | +24% |
| Brownsville | $40,000 | 90 | +8% |
| College Station | $35,000 | 70 | +21% |
| Corpus Christi | $41,000 | 190 | +63% |
| Dallas | $42,000 | 1,590 | +11% |
| El Paso | $39,000 | 230 | +27% |
| Fort Worth | $43,000 | 770 | +31% |
| Houston | $45,000 | 2,030 | +13% |
| Killeen | $29,000 | 200 | +142% |
| Laredo | $39,000 | 70 | +44% |
| Longview | $37,000 | 90 | +50% |
| Lubbock | $36,000 | 110 | +36% |
| Mcallen | $40,000 | 220 | +45% |
| Odessa | $36,000 | 90 | +165% |
| San Antonio | $35,000 | 850 | +43% |
| Tyler | $35,000 | 170 | +201% |
| Waco | $36,000 | 100 | +59% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $36,000 | 110 | -16% |
| Salt Lake City | $39,000 | 360 | -13% |
| St George | $36,000 | 60 | +123% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $42,000 | 50 | -7% |
| Lynchburg | $36,000 | 30 | -52% |
| Richmond | $46,000 | 440 | +6% |
| Roanoke | $40,000 | 220 | +118% |
| Virginia Beach | $41,000 | 430 | -16% |
| Winchester | $47,000 | 40 | +36% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton | $47,000 | 40 | -23% |
| Kennewick | $40,000 | 50 | -21% |
| Olympia | $44,000 | 50 | -20% |
| Seattle | $49,000 | 830 | -13% |
| Spokane | $43,000 | 280 | +108% |
| Tacoma | $48,000 | 120 | -32% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $31,000 | 180 | +91% |
| Huntington | $34,000 | 170 | +135% |
| Morgantown | $34,000 | 80 | +152% |
| Parkersburg | $33,000 | 90 | +116% |
| Wheeling | $33,000 | 80 | +102% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $43,000 | 80 | +9% |
| Eau Claire | $46,000 | 90 | +98% |
| Green Bay | $44,000 | 210 | +92% |
| Janesville | $41,000 | 50 | +30% |
| Madison | $49,000 | 230 | +2% |
| Milwaukee | $47,000 | 750 | +33% |
| Oshkosh | $51,000 | 90 | +64% |
| Racine | $47,000 | 60 | +31% |
| Wausau | $44,000 | 80 | +98% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper | $42,000 | 50 | +140% |