Surgical Technologists earn a median of $64,650 per year ($31.08/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 5.0% through 2035, with about 7,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 29-2055
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Surgical Technologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $64,650a year, or $31.08/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $46KTop 10% $97K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 7,100118,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025118.4K
- Projected 2035124.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 118.4K Projected 2035 124.3K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Central Supply Technician (Central Supply Tech), Certified Scrub Technician (Certified Scrub Tech), CST (Certified Surgical Technologist), OR Surgical Tech (Operating Room Surgical Technician), OR Tech (Operating Room Technician), OR Technologist (Operating Room Technologist).
Pay
How much do surgical technologists make?
Surgical Technologists earn a median of $64,650 a year ($31.08 an hour, or about $5,390 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $45,940 and the top 10% more than $96,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Hawaii, with a median of $82,640. See Surgical technologist salary in Hawaii and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Jose ($105,410 average): salary in every city.
Every surgical technologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$64,650
Middle half earn $54,690 to $79,750
- 10th
- $45,940
- 25th
- $54,690
- 75th
- $79,750
- 90th
- $96,940
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $45,940 |
| 25th | $54,690 |
| Median | $64,650 |
| 75th | $79,750 |
| 90th | $96,940 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $64,650
- Median hourly wage
- $31.08/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $68,710
- People employed
- 117,460
Versus all US occupations
At $64,650, Surgical Technologists earn 27% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $13,670 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 37% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $96,940 or more while the bottom 10% earn $45,940, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 40% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Hawaii posts the highest raw median ($82,640), but once local prices are taken into account Minnesota leads at $81,332 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay surgical technologists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $82,640 | $75,161 | 290 |
| 2Oregon | $81,390 | $78,743 | 1,090 |
| 3California | $81,310 | $73,438 | 11,920 |
| 4Massachusetts | $80,870 | $76,468 | 2,220 |
| 5Alaska | $80,380 | $78,528 | 310 |
| 6Minnesota | $80,210 | $81,332 | 1,770 |
| 7Connecticut | $79,890 | $77,106 | 1,220 |
| 8New York | $79,550 | $73,711 | 6,540 |
| 9District of Columbia | $77,520 | $70,536 | 340 |
| 10Washington | $77,270 | $72,206 | 2,510 |
Job outlook
Is surgical technologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Surgical Technologists | +5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Surgical Technologists to change 5.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 5,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 7,100 openings are projected each year, 6.0% of the 118,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of surgical assistants and technologists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The aging population is expected to increase the demand for surgical procedures, which should result in a greater need for surgical assistants and technologists. A rise in the number of surgeries among all age groups also is expected to support job growth.
Heightened demand for these workers is expected in outpatient settings, such as ambulatory surgery centers. These facilities are seeing an increase in the number of surgeries because of advances in medical technology and changes in insurers’ policies.
AI exposure: low
BLS places this occupation in its low relative AI exposure category, among the occupations least exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become a surgical technologist
Surgical technologists typically hold a certificate or associate degree from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program and then pass the NBSTSA's CST examination. Most states do not license the occupation: certification is required by law in only some states, and is otherwise driven by employers, who commonly require or prefer it.
The credential path, step by step
- Complete a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology programVaries by program: certificate or associate degree
A certificate or associate degree from a community college, vocational school, university or hospital program. Coursework covers anatomy, microbiology and physiology alongside sterilisation technique, equipment set-up and infection control, plus supervised clinical experience.
- Establish eligibility with NBSTSA and pass the CST exam
Submit an application and fee so NBSTSA can confirm your program's accreditation status, then sit the four-hour exam. NBSTSA is the sole authority on eligibility, so confirm your program's status before you enroll, not after.
- Add CPR or basic life support certification
Many surgical technologist jobs require CPR certification, basic life support certification, or both, on top of the CST.
- Check the rules in the state where you will work
Some states regulate the work of surgical technologists and surgical assistants; most do not license the occupation at all. Contact the state licensing agency directly rather than assuming the national picture applies.
- Renew the CST on its cycle
Earn AST-approved continuing education credits inside the current cycle, submit them to AST for approval, then file the renewal application and fee with NBSTSA before your certification expires.
Exams you have to pass
Certified Surgical Technologist examination (CST)
A four-hour computer-based exam of 175 multiple-choice questions, 150 of which are scored; a score of 98 on the scored questions is a pass. Taken after graduating from an accredited surgical technology program, once NBSTSA has confirmed eligibility.
Administered by National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
Renewal is a two-step process: continuing education credits must be earned and approved through the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) first, then the renewal application and fee go to NBSTSA. Credits must be earned inside the current certification cycle and do not roll over; late renewals require CE earned before expiry or retaking the exam.
- Program accreditation
CAAHEP · Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
To be eligible to sit the CST examination you must graduate from a surgical technology program accredited by CAAHEP or by ABHES. NBSTSA is the sole authority on eligibility and charges a processing fee to determine it.
- Program accreditation
ABHES · Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
The alternative accreditor accepted for CST eligibility. Graduates of an ABHES-accredited surgical technology program qualify to sit the exam on the same basis as CAAHEP graduates; military training programs are a separate eligibility pathway.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
Most states do not license surgical technologists, so there is no license to apply for in the way there is for a therapist or a PA. Some states do have laws regulating the work of surgical technologists and surgical assistants, and NBSTSA notes the CST is required by a number of states as well as being preferred or required by most employers nationwide. Because the rule is state law rather than a licensing board in most cases, check with the state licensing agency where you plan to work.
Who governs the credential
- National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)
The certifying body. Only a surgical technologist certified by NBSTSA may use the CST title. Its certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Credential detail for surgical technologists is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Surgical Assistants and Technologists (How to Become One) · checked August 23, 2026
- NBSTSA, CST Certification · checked August 23, 2026
- NBSTSA, CST Eligibility · checked August 23, 2026
- NBSTSA, Renewals & Recertification · checked August 23, 2026
- CAAHEP, caahep.org · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Surgical assistants and technologists typically need a certificate or an associate’s degree. Employers may require or prefer that workers have certification. Some states regulate these workers.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a surgical technologist do?
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
Surgical assistants and technologists help with surgical operations. Surgical assistants, also called surgical first assistants, help surgeons with tasks such as making incisions, placing clamps, and closing surgical sites. Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and help doctors and first assistants during surgeries.
Day-to-day tasks
- Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
- 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 patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
- Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.
- Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
- Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery.
- Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
- Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most surgical assistants and technologists work full time. Surgical assistants and technologists employed in hospitals may work or be on call during nights, weekends, and holidays. They may also be required to work shifts lasting longer than 8 hours.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where surgical technologists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Hospitals; state, local, and private38%
- Offices of dentists25%
- Offices of physicians16%
- Self-employed workers8%
- Outpatient care centers4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 38% |
| Offices of dentists | 25% |
| Offices of physicians | 16% |
| Self-employed workers | 8% |
| Outpatient care centers | 4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.6
- Active Listening3.3
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Learning Strategies3.0
- Writing2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.3
- Service Orientation3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination3.0
- Instructing3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Operation and Control3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Operation and Control | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a surgical technologist?
Women make up 77.3% of surgical technologists, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation.
Only 17.8% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce.
The median worker is 38.8 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 77.3%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 38.8All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 17.8%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 107,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of surgical technologists | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 77.3% | 47.1% |
| White | 76.4% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 16.4% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 3.2% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16.9% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 17.8% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 10.3% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a surgical technologist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Surgical Technologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.3
- Conventional4.8
- Social3.8
- Investigative3.2
- Enterprising1.6
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Surgical Technologist
O*NET related occupations
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More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with surgical technologists highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
- Pharmacy Technician$45,750
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,750 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Surgical Technologist appears on
Questions
Surgical Technologist: frequently asked questions
How much do surgical technologists make?
Surgical Technologists earn a median of $64,650 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 27% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $31.08/hr. The middle half earn between $54,690 and $79,750. The top 10% earn $96,940 or more.
How much do surgical technologists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for surgical technologists is $31.08 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $64,650 annual median works out to about $5,390 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a surgical technologist?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of surgical technologists earn less than $45,940 a year and the bottom quarter less than $54,690 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do surgical technologists make $100k?
Rarely. Even the 90th percentile is $96,940, so fewer than 10% of surgical technologists earn $100,000 or more (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No state's median reaches $100,000; the highest is Hawaii at $82,640.
Which states pay surgical technologists the most?
The highest state medians for Surgical Technologists are Hawaii ($82,640), Oregon ($81,390), California ($81,310) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Minnesota moves to the top at $81,332.
What kind of surgical technologist earns the most?
BLS does not split surgical technologists' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $96,940, against a median of $64,650 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Hawaii ($82,640), Oregon ($81,390), California ($81,310).
Do you need a degree to become a surgical technologist?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Surgical Technologists.
How long does it take to become a surgical technologist?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for surgical technologists is a postsecondary nondegree award. O*NET classes the work as needing medium preparation.
Is surgical technologist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 7,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a surgical technologist do?
Surgical assistants and technologists help with surgical operations. A core O*NET task: maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures. Employers most often ask for Medical software, Office suite software, Operating system software.
Do surgical technologists work 40 hours a week?
Most work fewer than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 20% of surgical technologists usually work more than 40 hours a week, 26% work exactly 40 and 54% work fewer. 84% say their schedule is regular and 16% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a surgical technologist?
O*NET scores Surgical Technologists highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
Do you need a license to work as a surgical technologist?
Not a state license. Most states do not license surgical technologists, so there is no license to apply for in the way there is for a therapist or a PA. Some states do have laws regulating the work of surgical technologists and surgical assistants, and NBSTSA notes the CST is required by a number of states as well as being preferred or required by most employers nationwide. Because the rule is state law rather than a licensing board in most cases, check with the state licensing agency where you plan to work.
What exams and certifications apply to a surgical technologist?
The CST (Certified Surgical Technologist examination). A four-hour computer-based exam of 175 multiple-choice questions, 150 of which are scored; a score of 98 on the scored questions is a pass. Taken after graduating from an accredited surgical technology program, once NBSTSA has confirmed eligibility.
What percentage of surgical technologists are women?
Women make up 77.3% of surgical technologists, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation. Only 17.8% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce. The median worker is 38.8 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.