29 Series · SOC 29-2055
Surgical Technologists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $64,650
- Median / year
- $96,940
- Top 10% earn
- +4.5%
- Growth '23–'33
- 117,460
- US workers
Surgical Technologists earn a median of $64,650 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $64,650, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $45,940 (10th percentile) to $96,940 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 117,460 US workers. Hawaii pays the most ($82,640), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Surgical Technologists earn a median of $64,650, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 56% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #56 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.5% by 2033.
- $64,650
- Median annual wage
- Top 44%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #56 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 2.1×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Hawaii at $82,640. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055) pays a national median of $64,650 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $45,940 at the 10th percentile to $96,940 at the 90th, with a mean of $68,710 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 117,460 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 394 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 7,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Postsecondary nondegree award. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.7 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Hawaii pays the highest state median at $82,640, which is +28% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $106,840 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 117,460 jobs Median $64,650/yr
Median Salary
$64,650
per year
Median Hourly
$31.08/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$68,710
average
Employment
117,460
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Surgical Technologists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$64,650 Top 44% higher than 56% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Surgical Technologists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 29-series occupations with growth data, Surgical Technologists sits on the slower-growing side at +4.5% growth and $64,650 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.5%
About average
Annual Openings
7,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Surgical Technologists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Monitoring 3.8
Active Listening 3.4
Operations Monitoring 3.3
Speaking 3.1
Critical Thinking 3.1
Coordination 3.1
Time Management 3.1
Reading Comprehension 3.0
Active Learning 3.0
Learning Strategies 3.0
Knowledge Areas
Customer and Personal Service 3.7
Medicine and Dentistry 3.7
English Language 3.5
Education and Training 3.1
Psychology 2.9
Public Safety and Security 2.9
Biology 2.8
Mathematics 2.7
Computers and Electronics 2.7
Administration and Management 2.5
Key Tasks
- ▸ Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
- ▸ Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
- ▸ Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
- ▸ Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.
- ▸ Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
- ▸ Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.
- ▸ Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.
- ▸ Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
- ▸ Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
- ▸ Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, or diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$45,940
25th Percentile
$54,690
Median
$64,650
75th Percentile
$79,750
90th Percentile
$96,940
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $82,640 | +28% above national |
| 2 | Oregon | $81,390 | +26% above national |
| 3 | California | $81,310 | +26% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $80,870 | +25% above national |
| 5 | Alaska | $80,380 | +24% above national |
| 6 | Minnesota | $80,210 | +24% above national |
| 7 | Connecticut | $79,890 | +24% above national |
| 8 | New York | $79,550 | +23% above national |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $77,520 | +20% above national |
| 10 | Washington | $77,270 | +20% above national |
| 11 | New Jersey | $77,200 | +19% above national |
| 12 | Colorado | $75,740 | +17% above national |
| 13 | Nevada | $75,480 | +17% above national |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $75,040 | +16% above national |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $74,130 | +15% above national |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $74,120 | +15% above national |
| 17 | Idaho | $72,550 | +12% above national |
| 18 | Arizona | $72,260 | +12% above national |
| 19 | Maryland | $68,970 | +7% above national |
| 20 | Virginia | $67,580 | +5% above national |
| 21 | Texas | $65,220 | +1% above national |
| 22 | Illinois | $64,650 | same as national |
| 23 | Indiana | $64,240 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Georgia | $64,010 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Nebraska | $63,880 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Michigan | $63,320 | 2% below national |
| 27 | Maine | $62,860 | 3% below national |
| 28 | Utah | $62,720 | 3% below national |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $62,680 | 3% below national |
| 30 | Florida | $62,440 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Ohio | $62,420 | 3% below national |
| 32 | Delaware | $62,250 | 4% below national |
| 33 | South Carolina | $62,160 | 4% below national |
| 34 | North Dakota | $61,640 | 5% below national |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $61,190 | 5% below national |
| 36 | Missouri | $61,120 | 5% below national |
| 37 | Montana | $60,970 | 6% below national |
| 38 | North Carolina | $60,920 | 6% below national |
| 39 | Vermont | $60,660 | 6% below national |
| 40 | Kansas | $60,600 | 6% below national |
| 41 | Iowa | $60,540 | 6% below national |
| 42 | Tennessee | $60,530 | 6% below national |
| 43 | Kentucky | $60,490 | 6% below national |
| 44 | South Dakota | $59,870 | 7% below national |
| 45 | Wyoming | $58,850 | 9% below national |
| 46 | Arkansas | $57,400 | 11% below national |
| 47 | Louisiana | $57,370 | 11% below national |
| 48 | New Mexico | $51,780 | 20% below national |
| 49 | Mississippi | $49,810 | 23% below national |
| 50 | Alabama | $49,420 | 24% below national |
| 51 | West Virginia | $49,110 | 24% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $30,600 | 53% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 394 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $106,840 | +65% above national |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $105,260 | +63% above national |
| 3 | Napa, CA | $102,490 | +59% above national |
| 4 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $100,130 | +55% above national |
| 5 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $99,960 | +55% above national |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,390 | +54% above national |
| 7 | Redding, CA | $89,940 | +39% above national |
| 8 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $87,330 | +35% above national |
| 9 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $86,790 | +34% above national |
| 10 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $86,410 | +34% above national |
| 11 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $84,120 | +30% above national |
| 12 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $83,580 | +29% above national |
| 13 | Barnstable Town, MA | $82,860 | +28% above national |
| 14 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $82,430 | +28% above national |
| 15 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $82,300 | +27% above national |
| 16 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,260 | +27% above national |
| 17 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $82,000 | +27% above national |
| 18 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $81,810 | +27% above national |
| 19 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $81,740 | +26% above national |
| 20 | Boulder, CO | $81,600 | +26% above national |
| 21 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $81,580 | +26% above national |
| 22 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $81,500 | +26% above national |
| 23 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $81,470 | +26% above national |
| 24 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $81,320 | +26% above national |
| 25 | Anchorage, AK | $80,880 | +25% above national |
| 26 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $80,730 | +25% above national |
| 27 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $80,730 | +25% above national |
| 28 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $80,140 | +24% above national |
| 29 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,060 | +24% above national |
| 30 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $79,990 | +24% above national |
| 31 | Modesto, CA | $79,950 | +24% above national |
| 32 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $79,900 | +24% above national |
| 33 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $79,870 | +24% above national |
| 34 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $79,210 | +23% above national |
| 35 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $78,880 | +22% above national |
| 36 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $78,750 | +22% above national |
| 37 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $78,660 | +22% above national |
| 38 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $78,610 | +22% above national |
| 39 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,510 | +21% above national |
| 40 | Springfield, MA | $78,510 | +21% above national |
| 41 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $78,470 | +21% above national |
| 42 | Rochester, MN | $78,070 | +21% above national |
| 43 | Chico, CA | $78,050 | +21% above national |
| 44 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $78,050 | +21% above national |
| 45 | Salem, OR | $78,010 | +21% above national |
| 46 | Ithaca, NY | $77,760 | +20% above national |
| 47 | Greeley, CO | $77,750 | +20% above national |
| 48 | Worcester, MA | $77,610 | +20% above national |
| 49 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77,490 | +20% above national |
| 50 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $77,440 | +20% above national |
| 51 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $77,270 | +20% above national |
| 52 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $77,020 | +19% above national |
| 53 | Pueblo, CO | $76,940 | +19% above national |
| 54 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $76,830 | +19% above national |
| 55 | Greenville, NC | $76,820 | +19% above national |
| 56 | Medford, OR | $76,720 | +19% above national |
| 57 | Boise City, ID | $76,650 | +19% above national |
| 58 | Bellingham, WA | $75,970 | +18% above national |
| 59 | Madison, WI | $75,930 | +17% above national |
| 60 | Reno, NV | $75,830 | +17% above national |
| 61 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $75,640 | +17% above national |
| 62 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $75,390 | +17% above national |
| 63 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $75,000 | +16% above national |
| 64 | Eau Claire, WI | $74,900 | +16% above national |
| 65 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $74,830 | +16% above national |
| 66 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $74,360 | +15% above national |
| 67 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $74,330 | +15% above national |
| 68 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $74,200 | +15% above national |
| 69 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $74,120 | +15% above national |
| 70 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $73,810 | +14% above national |
| 71 | Green Bay, WI | $73,120 | +13% above national |
| 72 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $72,840 | +13% above national |
| 73 | Salinas, CA | $72,780 | +13% above national |
| 74 | Duluth, MN-WI | $72,360 | +12% above national |
| 75 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $72,030 | +11% above national |
| 76 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $71,890 | +11% above national |
| 77 | Colorado Springs, CO | $71,790 | +11% above national |
| 78 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $71,680 | +11% above national |
| 79 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $71,050 | +10% above national |
| 80 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $70,880 | +10% above national |
| 81 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $70,610 | +9% above national |
| 82 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $70,130 | +8% above national |
| 83 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $69,650 | +8% above national |
| 84 | Wausau, WI | $69,430 | +7% above national |
| 85 | St. Cloud, MN | $69,270 | +7% above national |
| 86 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $69,160 | +7% above national |
| 87 | Pittsfield, MA | $69,040 | +7% above national |
| 88 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $68,970 | +7% above national |
| 89 | Bloomington, IL | $68,140 | +5% above national |
| 90 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $68,110 | +5% above national |
| 91 | St. George, UT | $68,080 | +5% above national |
| 92 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $67,920 | +5% above national |
| 93 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $67,660 | +5% above national |
| 94 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $67,570 | +5% above national |
| 95 | Appleton, WI | $67,220 | +4% above national |
| 96 | Florence, SC | $67,080 | +4% above national |
| 97 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $67,080 | +4% above national |
| 98 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $66,820 | +3% above national |
| 99 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $66,360 | +3% above national |
| 100 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $66,270 | +3% above national |
| 101 | Longview, TX | $66,210 | +2% above national |
| 102 | Waco, TX | $66,020 | +2% above national |
| 103 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $65,980 | +2% above national |
| 104 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $65,910 | +2% above national |
| 105 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $65,810 | +2% above national |
| 106 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $65,780 | +2% above national |
| 107 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $65,690 | +2% above national |
| 108 | Fayetteville, NC | $65,660 | +2% above national |
| 109 | Bozeman, MT | $65,600 | +1% above national |
| 110 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $65,520 | +1% above national |
| 111 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $65,470 | +1% above national |
| 112 | Asheville, NC | $65,450 | +1% above national |
| 113 | Ogden, UT | $65,440 | +1% above national |
| 114 | Grand Junction, CO | $65,410 | +1% above national |
| 115 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $65,370 | +1% above national |
| 116 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $65,220 | +1% above national |
| 117 | Lincoln, NE | $65,110 | +1% above national |
| 118 | Sheboygan, WI | $65,070 | +1% above national |
| 119 | Omaha, NE-IA | $65,050 | +1% above national |
| 120 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $65,040 | +1% above national |
| 121 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $64,910 | same as national |
| 122 | Terre Haute, IN | $64,790 | same as national |
| 123 | Yakima, WA | $64,740 | same as national |
| 124 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $64,640 | same as national |
| 125 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $64,640 | same as national |
| 126 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $64,590 | same as national |
| 127 | Tucson, AZ | $64,510 | same as national |
| 128 | Fresno, CA | $64,380 | same as national |
| 129 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $64,360 | same as national |
| 130 | Oklahoma City, OK | $64,290 | 1% below national |
| 131 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $64,240 | 1% below national |
| 132 | Evansville, IN | $64,220 | 1% below national |
| 133 | Columbus, OH | $64,120 | 1% below national |
| 134 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $64,070 | 1% below national |
| 135 | Jacksonville, FL | $64,070 | 1% below national |
| 136 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $64,050 | 1% below national |
| 137 | Missoula, MT | $64,030 | 1% below national |
| 138 | Savannah, GA | $63,990 | 1% below national |
| 139 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $63,950 | 1% below national |
| 140 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $63,860 | 1% below national |
| 141 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $63,850 | 1% below national |
| 142 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $63,730 | 1% below national |
| 143 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $63,700 | 1% below national |
| 144 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $63,680 | 2% below national |
| 145 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $63,590 | 2% below national |
| 146 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $63,590 | 2% below national |
| 147 | Spartanburg, SC | $63,570 | 2% below national |
| 148 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $63,530 | 2% below national |
| 149 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $63,490 | 2% below national |
| 150 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $63,450 | 2% below national |
| 151 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $63,370 | 2% below national |
| 152 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $63,360 | 2% below national |
| 153 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $63,310 | 2% below national |
| 154 | Twin Falls, ID | $63,280 | 2% below national |
| 155 | Syracuse, NY | $63,270 | 2% below national |
| 156 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $63,250 | 2% below national |
| 157 | Traverse City, MI | $63,230 | 2% below national |
| 158 | Bloomington, IN | $63,200 | 2% below national |
| 159 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $63,200 | 2% below national |
| 160 | Fort Wayne, IN | $63,140 | 2% below national |
| 161 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $63,120 | 2% below national |
| 162 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $63,050 | 2% below national |
| 163 | Lubbock, TX | $63,030 | 3% below national |
| 164 | Victoria, TX | $63,000 | 3% below national |
| 165 | El Paso, TX | $62,980 | 3% below national |
| 166 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $62,980 | 3% below national |
| 167 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $62,940 | 3% below national |
| 168 | Helena, MT | $62,910 | 3% below national |
| 169 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $62,910 | 3% below national |
| 170 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $62,810 | 3% below national |
| 171 | Lancaster, PA | $62,680 | 3% below national |
| 172 | York-Hanover, PA | $62,670 | 3% below national |
| 173 | Springfield, IL | $62,590 | 3% below national |
| 174 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $62,570 | 3% below national |
| 175 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $62,500 | 3% below national |
| 176 | Toledo, OH | $62,470 | 3% below national |
| 177 | Punta Gorda, FL | $62,450 | 3% below national |
| 178 | Pittsburgh, PA | $62,370 | 4% below national |
| 179 | Fargo, ND-MN | $62,360 | 4% below national |
| 180 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $62,330 | 4% below national |
| 181 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $62,270 | 4% below national |
| 182 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $62,250 | 4% below national |
| 183 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $62,250 | 4% below national |
| 184 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $62,250 | 4% below national |
| 185 | Cleveland, OH | $62,130 | 4% below national |
| 186 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $62,130 | 4% below national |
| 187 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $62,020 | 4% below national |
| 188 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $61,990 | 4% below national |
| 189 | Rapid City, SD | $61,960 | 4% below national |
| 190 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $61,890 | 4% below national |
| 191 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $61,870 | 4% below national |
| 192 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $61,860 | 4% below national |
| 193 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $61,830 | 4% below national |
| 194 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $61,830 | 4% below national |
| 195 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,790 | 4% below national |
| 196 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $61,780 | 4% below national |
| 197 | Abilene, TX | $61,740 | 5% below national |
| 198 | Rockford, IL | $61,740 | 5% below national |
| 199 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $61,730 | 5% below national |
| 200 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $61,730 | 5% below national |
| 201 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $61,720 | 5% below national |
| 202 | Bismarck, ND | $61,690 | 5% below national |
| 203 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $61,650 | 5% below national |
| 204 | Roanoke, VA | $61,600 | 5% below national |
| 205 | Lima, OH | $61,520 | 5% below national |
| 206 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,480 | 5% below national |
| 207 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $61,480 | 5% below national |
| 208 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $61,430 | 5% below national |
| 209 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $61,420 | 5% below national |
| 210 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $61,340 | 5% below national |
| 211 | Visalia, CA | $61,270 | 5% below national |
| 212 | Columbia, SC | $61,230 | 5% below national |
| 213 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $61,210 | 5% below national |
| 214 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $61,190 | 5% below national |
| 215 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $61,150 | 5% below national |
| 216 | Springfield, MO | $61,120 | 5% below national |
| 217 | Hammond, LA | $61,090 | 6% below national |
| 218 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $61,080 | 6% below national |
| 219 | Flint, MI | $61,080 | 6% below national |
| 220 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $61,010 | 6% below national |
| 221 | Richmond, VA | $60,980 | 6% below national |
| 222 | Winston-Salem, NC | $60,920 | 6% below national |
| 223 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $60,910 | 6% below national |
| 224 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $60,900 | 6% below national |
| 225 | Wilmington, NC | $60,900 | 6% below national |
| 226 | Utica-Rome, NY | $60,860 | 6% below national |
| 227 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $60,840 | 6% below national |
| 228 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $60,830 | 6% below national |
| 229 | New Haven, CT | $60,800 | 6% below national |
| 230 | Rochester, NY | $60,780 | 6% below national |
| 231 | Flagstaff, AZ | $60,730 | 6% below national |
| 232 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $60,690 | 6% below national |
| 233 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $60,660 | 6% below national |
| 234 | Bangor, ME | $60,620 | 6% below national |
| 235 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $60,620 | 6% below national |
| 236 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $60,620 | 6% below national |
| 237 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $60,610 | 6% below national |
| 238 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $60,540 | 6% below national |
| 239 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $60,530 | 6% below national |
| 240 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,520 | 6% below national |
| 241 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $60,520 | 6% below national |
| 242 | Dubuque, IA | $60,500 | 6% below national |
| 243 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $60,500 | 6% below national |
| 244 | Erie, PA | $60,440 | 7% below national |
| 245 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $60,390 | 7% below national |
| 246 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $60,360 | 7% below national |
| 247 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $60,360 | 7% below national |
| 248 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $60,300 | 7% below national |
| 249 | Baton Rouge, LA | $60,230 | 7% below national |
| 250 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $60,230 | 7% below national |
| 251 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $60,220 | 7% below national |
| 252 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $60,120 | 7% below national |
| 253 | Kenosha, WI | $60,090 | 7% below national |
| 254 | Akron, OH | $60,010 | 7% below national |
| 255 | Jackson, MS | $59,990 | 7% below national |
| 256 | Kankakee, IL | $59,940 | 7% below national |
| 257 | Albany, GA | $59,920 | 7% below national |
| 258 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $59,920 | 7% below national |
| 259 | Enid, OK | $59,920 | 7% below national |
| 260 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $59,910 | 7% below national |
| 261 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $59,780 | 8% below national |
| 262 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $59,750 | 8% below national |
| 263 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $59,670 | 8% below national |
| 264 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $59,650 | 8% below national |
| 265 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $59,620 | 8% below national |
| 266 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $59,610 | 8% below national |
| 267 | Tulsa, OK | $59,570 | 8% below national |
| 268 | Pocatello, ID | $59,550 | 8% below national |
| 269 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $59,540 | 8% below national |
| 270 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $59,530 | 8% below national |
| 271 | Peoria, IL | $59,470 | 8% below national |
| 272 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $59,400 | 8% below national |
| 273 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $59,380 | 8% below national |
| 274 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $59,210 | 8% below national |
| 275 | Johnson City, TN | $59,180 | 8% below national |
| 276 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $59,180 | 8% below national |
| 277 | Lawton, OK | $59,110 | 9% below national |
| 278 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $59,100 | 9% below national |
| 279 | Jackson, TN | $59,090 | 9% below national |
| 280 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,070 | 9% below national |
| 281 | Ocala, FL | $59,070 | 9% below national |
| 282 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $59,050 | 9% below national |
| 283 | Iowa City, IA | $58,930 | 9% below national |
| 284 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $58,870 | 9% below national |
| 285 | Lake Charles, LA | $58,850 | 9% below national |
| 286 | Bowling Green, KY | $58,770 | 9% below national |
| 287 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $58,690 | 9% below national |
| 288 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $58,660 | 9% below national |
| 289 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $58,570 | 9% below national |
| 290 | Amarillo, TX | $58,440 | 10% below national |
| 291 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $58,440 | 10% below national |
| 292 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $58,320 | 10% below national |
| 293 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $58,310 | 10% below national |
| 294 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $58,210 | 10% below national |
| 295 | Salisbury, MD | $58,180 | 10% below national |
| 296 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $58,180 | 10% below national |
| 297 | Columbus, GA-AL | $58,170 | 10% below national |
| 298 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $58,160 | 10% below national |
| 299 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $58,110 | 10% below national |
| 300 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $58,070 | 10% below national |
| 301 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $57,980 | 10% below national |
| 302 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $57,960 | 10% below national |
| 303 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $57,710 | 11% below national |
| 304 | Dalton, GA | $57,590 | 11% below national |
| 305 | Paducah, KY-IL | $57,570 | 11% below national |
| 306 | Rocky Mount, NC | $57,570 | 11% below national |
| 307 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $57,220 | 11% below national |
| 308 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $57,190 | 12% below national |
| 309 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $57,000 | 12% below national |
| 310 | Monroe, LA | $56,790 | 12% below national |
| 311 | Joplin, MO-KS | $56,750 | 12% below national |
| 312 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $56,640 | 12% below national |
| 313 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $56,510 | 13% below national |
| 314 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $55,980 | 13% below national |
| 315 | Billings, MT | $54,920 | 15% below national |
| 316 | Knoxville, TN | $54,900 | 15% below national |
| 317 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $54,680 | 15% below national |
| 318 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $54,580 | 16% below national |
| 319 | Saginaw, MI | $54,470 | 16% below national |
| 320 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $54,320 | 16% below national |
| 321 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $54,230 | 16% below national |
| 322 | Wichita, KS | $53,950 | 17% below national |
| 323 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $53,860 | 17% below national |
| 324 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $53,850 | 17% below national |
| 325 | Lafayette, LA | $53,770 | 17% below national |
| 326 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $52,780 | 18% below national |
| 327 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $52,650 | 19% below national |
| 328 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $52,510 | 19% below national |
| 329 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $52,320 | 19% below national |
| 330 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $52,290 | 19% below national |
| 331 | Tallahassee, FL | $52,190 | 19% below national |
| 332 | Altoona, PA | $52,060 | 19% below national |
| 333 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $51,960 | 20% below national |
| 334 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $51,930 | 20% below national |
| 335 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $51,890 | 20% below national |
| 336 | Albuquerque, NM | $51,780 | 20% below national |
| 337 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $51,770 | 20% below national |
| 338 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $51,760 | 20% below national |
| 339 | Huntsville, AL | $51,710 | 20% below national |
| 340 | Birmingham, AL | $51,520 | 20% below national |
| 341 | Casper, WY | $51,440 | 20% below national |
| 342 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $51,380 | 21% below national |
| 343 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $51,070 | 21% below national |
| 344 | Alexandria, LA | $50,960 | 21% below national |
| 345 | Rome, GA | $50,900 | 21% below national |
| 346 | Corpus Christi, TX | $50,710 | 22% below national |
| 347 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $50,690 | 22% below national |
| 348 | Warner Robins, GA | $50,640 | 22% below national |
| 349 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $50,500 | 22% below national |
| 350 | Logan, UT-ID | $50,290 | 22% below national |
| 351 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $50,150 | 22% below national |
| 352 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $50,120 | 22% below national |
| 353 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $50,080 | 23% below national |
| 354 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,980 | 23% below national |
| 355 | Mobile, AL | $49,910 | 23% below national |
| 356 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $49,880 | 23% below national |
| 357 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $49,880 | 23% below national |
| 358 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $49,870 | 23% below national |
| 359 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $49,830 | 23% below national |
| 360 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $49,600 | 23% below national |
| 361 | Jonesboro, AR | $49,590 | 23% below national |
| 362 | Morgantown, WV | $49,390 | 24% below national |
| 363 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $49,190 | 24% below national |
| 364 | Montgomery, AL | $49,130 | 24% below national |
| 365 | Charleston, WV | $49,110 | 24% below national |
| 366 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $49,060 | 24% below national |
| 367 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $49,000 | 24% below national |
| 368 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $48,940 | 24% below national |
| 369 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $48,880 | 24% below national |
| 370 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $48,790 | 25% below national |
| 371 | Hattiesburg, MS | $48,610 | 25% below national |
| 372 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $48,610 | 25% below national |
| 373 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48,570 | 25% below national |
| 374 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $47,840 | 26% below national |
| 375 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $47,830 | 26% below national |
| 376 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $47,540 | 26% below national |
| 377 | Dothan, AL | $47,100 | 27% below national |
| 378 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $46,820 | 28% below national |
| 379 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $46,710 | 28% below national |
| 380 | Valdosta, GA | $46,410 | 28% below national |
| 381 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $46,290 | 28% below national |
| 382 | Decatur, AL | $46,060 | 29% below national |
| 383 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $45,480 | 30% below national |
| 384 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $44,830 | 31% below national |
| 385 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $44,580 | 31% below national |
| 386 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $44,230 | 32% below national |
| 387 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $44,210 | 32% below national |
| 388 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $42,720 | 34% below national |
| 389 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $40,620 | 37% below national |
| 390 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $36,660 | 43% below national |
| 391 | Mayaguez, PR | $31,200 | 52% below national |
| 392 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $30,620 | 53% below national |
| 393 | Ponce, PR | $27,230 | 58% below national |
| 394 | Arecibo, PR | $26,880 | 58% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 29 (healthcare practitioners) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Surgical Technologists make? ▼
The median annual salary for Surgical Technologists is $64,650 ($31.08/hour). The salary range spans from $45,940 at the 10th percentile to $96,940 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Surgical Technologists the most? ▼
Hawaii pays the highest median salary for Surgical Technologists at $82,640/year, which is +28% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Surgical Technologists? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Surgical Technologists is Postsecondary nondegree award.
How dangerous is being a Surgical Technologists? ▼
Surgical Technologists has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.7 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 1.5 per 100 workers.
Is Surgical Technologists a good career? ▼
Employment for Surgical Technologists is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 7,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Surgical Technologists pay vary by state? ▼
Surgical Technologists salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $82,640/year, while New Mexico pays the least at $51,780/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Surgical Technologists? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Surgical Technologists is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $106,840/year. BLS reports wage data for 394 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Surgical Technologists pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $79,750/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Hawaii leads at $82,640/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.