Median Salary
$64,650
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$31.08
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$96,940
entry level starts ~$45,940
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 117,000 employed
How much does a Surgical Technologist make?
Surgical Technologists in the United States bring home a median salary of $64,650 a year, or around $31.08 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $45,940, while the top 10% earn $96,940.
That is $3,260 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Surgical Technologist salary range by percentile
Half of all Surgical Technologists earn between $54,690 and $79,750 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,940 | $22.09 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $54,690 | $26.29 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $64,650 | $31.08 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $79,750 | $38.34 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,940 | $46.61 |
|
Highest-paying states for Surgical Technologist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Hawaii leads the country for Surgical Technologist pay at $82,640 a year, followed by Oregon ($81,390) and California ($81,310). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $49,110 — a gap of $33,530 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Surgical Technologist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Hawaii $82,640Oregon $81,390California $81,310Massachusetts $80,870Alaska $80,380Minnesota $80,210Connecticut $79,890New York $79,550District of Columbia $77,520Washington $77,270New Jersey $77,200Colorado $75,740Nevada $75,480New Hampshire $75,040Rhode Island $74,130Wisconsin $74,120Idaho $72,550Arizona $72,260Maryland $68,970Virginia $67,580Texas $65,220Illinois $64,650Indiana $64,240Georgia $64,010Nebraska $63,880Michigan $63,320Maine $62,860Utah $62,720Pennsylvania $62,680Florida $62,440Ohio $62,420Delaware $62,250South Carolina $62,160North Dakota $61,640Oklahoma $61,190Missouri $61,120Montana $60,970North Carolina $60,920Vermont $60,660Kansas $60,600Iowa $60,540Tennessee $60,530Kentucky $60,490South Dakota $59,870Wyoming $58,850Arkansas $57,400Louisiana $57,370New Mexico $51,780Mississippi $49,810Alabama $49,420West Virginia $49,110
Workforce and education
About 117,000 people work as Surgical Technologists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $68,710 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Surgical Technologist make in the United States?
The median Surgical Technologist salary in the United States is $64,650 per year, or about $31.08 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $45,940, while the top 10% of earners make $96,940 or more.
How does Surgical Technologist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Surgical Technologist median of $64,650 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Surgical Technologists the most?
Hawaii is the highest-paying state for Surgical Technologists, with a median salary of $82,640 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Surgical Technologist?
Becoming a Surgical Technologist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Surgical Technologists work in the United States?
About 117,000 people were employed as Surgical Technologists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.