Surgical Tech Salary: How Much Do Surgical Technologists Make in 2024

February 23, 2024
1:48 pm

Table of Contents

Introduction.

Surgical tech salary. Surgical technologists are an important part of the surgical team, providing support to surgeons and nurses during procedures. They are responsible for preparing the operating room, setting up equipment, and assisting with surgery. Surgical technologists also play a vital role in patient care, providing emotional support and comfort to patients before, during, and after surgery.

The median annual salary for surgical technologists is $56,620, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, salaries can vary depending on a number of factors, including education, experience, and location.

In this article, we will discuss the salary range for surgical technologists, the factors that affect salaries, how to become a surgical technologist, the job outlook for surgical technologists, and the benefits of being a surgical technologist. We will also answer some common questions about surgical technologist salaries and provide tips for negotiating a higher salary.

What is a surgical technologist?

Surgical technologists, sometimes called surgical technicians, are medical experts that provide support to surgeons and other members of the operating room staff. Assisting the surgeon throughout the procedure, getting the operating room ready, and putting up the necessary tools are all responsibilities of surgical techs. They offer care before, during, and after surgery and keep an eye on the patient’s vitals.

Range of Surgical Tech Salary.

The BLS reported that surgical technologists earned a median yearly income of $56,640 in May 2020. According to the BLS, the income distribution was as follows: the top 10% made over $82,920, while the bottom 10% made under $36,970.

There are a number of factors that can affect surgical technicians’ wage ranges, including:

Education and experience.
Geographic location.
Employment setting.

Salary expectations for surgical technicians are often greater for those with more training and expertise in the field. Surgical technologists with a bachelor’s degree may, for instance, command a higher salary than their associate’s degree counterparts. Salary expectations for surgical technicians with more experience are higher than those of their less seasoned counterparts.

Another factor that could influence your pay is the location of your workplace. Salary ranges for surgical technicians in remote regions are often lower than those in urban centers. This is due to the fact that urban areas, being home to more healthcare facilities, have a higher demand for surgical technologists.

At the end of the day, your pay may depend on more than just your job title. Salaries for surgical technicians working at hospitals are generally higher than those in other places, such as ambulatory surgery clinics or doctors’ offices. This is due to the fact that hospitals are in a better financial position to give their staff more wages.

There is a rather large compensation range for surgical technologists in general. But you can boost your income potential by getting a degree, working in a high-paying area, and picking a high-paying job setting.

Factors Affecting Surgical Technologist Salaries.

There are a number of factors that can affect the salary of a surgical technologist, including:

Education and experience
Geographic location
Employment type
Industry
Demand for surgical technologists

Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors.

Education and experience.

A surgical technologist’s income is directly proportional to their level of education and experience. A surgical technologist with a bachelor’s degree and five years of expertise, for instance, might anticipate a higher salary than one with only a high school diploma and zero work experience.

Geographic location.

Surgical technologists’ salaries might be impacted by factors such as the local cost of living. In general, surgical technologists can expect to make more money working in urban centers like New York or San Francisco than in more rural or less populous places.

Employment type.

There is a wide range of employment opportunities for surgical technicians, including in-patient surgical centers, physician offices, and outpatient surgery centers. A surgical technologist’s pay may vary depending on the kind of facility they work for. As an example, compared to their counterparts at outpatient surgery centers or physician offices, surgical technologists working in hospitals usually earn a higher salary.

Industry.

A surgical technologist’s pay may also vary depending on the sector in which they operate. Earnings for surgical technicians tend to be higher in private practice compared to the public or nonprofit sectors.

Surgical technologists are in high demand.

There will likely be a greater need for surgical technologists in the coming years. This is because of two factors: the aging population and the rising number of surgical procedures. The growing demand for surgical technologists’ services is what determines their salary expectations.

All of the aforementioned factors might have an impact on a surgical technologist’s income. Surgical technicians can better plan their training, education, and professional futures if they have a firm grasp of these elements.

How to Become a Surgical Technologist.

A formal education program is required to become a surgical technologist. Community colleges and technical schools usually offer these programs. The typical duration of the curriculum is two years, though this can vary.

Anatomy, surgical techniques, and medical terminology are all topics you’ll cover in your training. Practical training in an operating room setting is also on the agenda.

Certification in surgical technology and assistants is contingent upon the successful completion of an accredited program and subsequent passing of the NBSTSA exam. The majority of states mandate this test for surgical technologists.

You can begin working as a surgical technologist the moment you pass the certification exam. A variety of healthcare facilities, including hospitals and surgery centers, employ people with your skills.

Surgical technologists earn a median yearly salary of $50,990. More than $76,000 is earned by the top 10% of earners annually. Annual incomes below $35,000 are earned by the lowest 10% of the population.

A large percentage of surgical technicians report feeling fulfilled by their work. They thrive in dynamic settings where they can make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Job Outlook for Surgical Technologists.

Surgical technicians could anticipate a healthy work market in the next few years. From 2020–2030, surgical technicians are expected to see a faster-than-average 13% increase in employment, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). A combination of factors, including rising demand for surgical treatments and a shortage of qualified candidates to fill open positions due to retirements, is projected to fuel this expansion.

Hospitals, outpatient surgery clinics, and doctors’ offices are just a few of the many places you can find surgical technicians in great demand. Additionally, several subspecialties rely on them, such as plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, and general surgery.

The work market is most favorable for surgical technicians who have earned certification from the NBSTSA. Surgical technologists who have earned their certification have proven that they have attained the pinnacle of their field.

Many things can be done to get oneself ready for a job as a surgical technician, should that be one of your goals. Among these measures are:

Earning a degree in surgical technology from an accredited program
Obtaining certification from the NBSTSA
Gaining experience in a clinical setting
Networking with other surgical technologists

By following these steps, you can increase your chances of landing a rewarding career as a surgical technologist.

Benefits of Being a Surgical Technologist.

Being a surgical technician has various advantages, such as:

High salary potential.
Job security.
Opportunities for advancement.
Flexible work hours.
Variety of job settings.
Satisfying work.

Let’s examine each of these advantages in more detail.

High salary potential.

As per the data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median yearly pay for surgical technicians is $59,360. On the other hand, surgical technicians in particular regions can make a pretty penny. The median yearly income for surgical technicians in California, according to the BLS, is $82,540.

Surgical technologists might earn higher compensation based on their level of education and experience. As an illustration, the average annual salary for a surgical technologist with a bachelor’s degree is $68,480, and the average annual salary for one with a master’s degree is $78,100.

Job security.

Surgical technicians could anticipate a healthy work market in the next few years. Jobs for surgical technicians are expected to expand at a greater rate than the national average of 11% between 2020 and 2030, according to the BLS. The demand for surgical treatments is likely to increase, driven by an aging population.

Surgical technicians are highly sought after by healthcare facilities across the board, from hospitals and surgery centers to outpatient clinics. Research and development, pharmaceutical production, and medical device manufacturing are just a few of the many businesses that rely on them.

Opportunities for advancement.

Opportunities for promotion are plentiful for surgical technicians. Surgical technologists can advance to more responsible roles like lead technologist or surgical coordinator as they gain experience in the field. They have the opportunity to rise through the ranks and become chief operating officer or director of surgical services.

With a bachelor’s degree or above, surgical technicians have more job options, including teaching, research, and product development.

Flexible work hours.

The majority of surgical technicians work full-time, while some may have the option of part-time or flexible hours. An additional source of income for many surgical technologists is the possibility of working overtime.

Hospitals, surgery centers, and outpatient clinics are just a few of the places where surgical technicians could find work. This can provide them with the chance to select the most suitable workplace for themselves.

Variety of job settings.

Hospitals, outpatient clinics, and surgery centers are just a few of the places you might find surgical technicians at work. Additionally, they find employment in many different fields, including pharmaceutical production, medical device manufacture, and research and development.

Surgical technicians have the unique chance to work with diverse populations in a wide range of situations, thanks to the diversity of their job descriptions. Additionally, it can help them discover a career path that makes excellent use of their abilities and interests.

Satisfying work.

As members of the healthcare team, surgical technologists are crucial. In addition to assisting with the fast and safe execution of surgical procedures, they offer direct patient care. For some, this is the perfect line of work.

Tips for Negotiating a Higher Surgical Technologist Salary.

Salary negotiation is a must when accepting a position as a surgical technologist. This is your opportunity to land a six-figure income, so be well-prepared by reading up on the subject.

In order to increase your surgical technologist’s income, consider the following:

Gather information. Do your homework on the going rate for surgical technologists in your region before entering into any negotiations. Your discussions will be off to a solid start with this.
Recognize your value. Understanding your personal value is just as important as understanding the average income for surgical technologists. Everything, from your education to your work experience, counts.
Maintain an air of self-assurance. Maintain an air of self-assurance and assertiveness while you negotiate your compensation. Doing so will demonstrate to the hiring manager that you value the position and are competent in your field.
You should be ready to leave. You should be ready to quit your job if you are unhappy with the pay offer. Employers will see that you are determined to achieve a fair wage and won’t back down from a fight if you don’t get it.
Put out a stronger request than you anticipate receiving. Ask for more money than you anticipate receiving while negotiating your compensation. As a result, you’ll have more leeway to bargain for a mutually beneficial agreement with your company.

Your chances of successfully negotiating a better wage as a surgical technologist will improve if you follow these tips.

Additional suggestions that could be useful to you are as follows:

Get a head start. Salary negotiations are most fruitful when done prior to accepting a job offer. Doing so will give you the upper hand and increase your chances of negotiating a salary that suits your needs.
Make sure you’re ready to talk face-to-face. The best way to negotiate a payment is in person, not over the phone or email. Meeting face-to-face with the employer allows you to establish rapport and bargain on a more personal level.
Keep your cool and be courteous. Be kind and pleasant even though you are in the midst of a negotiation. Your professionalism and dedication to the position will be evident to the employer in this way.
Keep it real. Keep an open mind and a level head when you negotiate your wage. A pay that is significantly more than the market rate is not likely to be offered to you by the company.
Be ready to find common ground. The pay you desire is unlikely to be achievable in most situations. If you want to reach a fair deal with your employer, you’ll need to be willing to compromise.

Your chances of successfully negotiating a better wage as a surgical technologist will improve if you follow these tips. Your hard work and devotion are justly rewarded, and this will help you get there.

Conclusion.

Annually, a surgical technologist can expect to earn an average of $60,932. Your real wage, however, will be contingent upon a multitude of variables, such as your degree of education, location, and experience.

Get to know the local wage possibilities as a surgical technologist if that’s a career path you’re considering. After reading this, you will be better able to choose a professional direction for yourself.