How much does a surgical technologist make?
The median surgical technologist in the United States earns $64,650 per year, about $31.08 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all surgical technologists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-2055.
Surgical technologist salary range
Pay for surgical technologists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $45,940 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $96,940. The average (mean) wage of $68,710 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,940 | $22.09 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $54,690 | $26.29 | |
| Median (50th) | $64,650 | $31.08 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $79,750 | $38.34 | |
| 90th percentile | $96,940 | $46.61 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for surgical technologists (SOC 29-2055), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Surgical technologist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Surgical technologists earn the most in Hawaii at $82,640 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $49,110. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $82,640 | 290 |
| Oregon | $81,390 | 1,090 |
| California | $81,310 | 11,920 |
| Massachusetts | $80,870 | 2,220 |
| Alaska | $80,380 | 310 |
| Minnesota | $80,210 | 1,770 |
| Connecticut | $79,890 | 1,220 |
| New York | $79,550 | 6,540 |
| District of Columbia | $77,520 | 340 |
| Washington | $77,270 | 2,510 |
| New Jersey | $77,200 | 2,780 |
| Colorado | $75,740 | 2,100 |
| Nevada | $75,480 | 1,110 |
| New Hampshire | $75,040 | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $74,130 | 240 |
| Wisconsin | $74,120 | 2,180 |
| Idaho | $72,550 | 1,100 |
| Arizona | $72,260 | 2,410 |
| Maryland | $68,970 | 1,880 |
| Virginia | $67,580 | 1,910 |
| Texas | $65,220 | 10,160 |
| Illinois | $64,650 | 3,570 |
| Indiana | $64,240 | 2,680 |
| Georgia | $64,010 | 4,380 |
| Nebraska | $63,880 | 770 |
| Michigan | $63,320 | 3,840 |
| Maine | $62,860 | 470 |
| Utah | $62,720 | 1,170 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,680 | 4,490 |
| Florida | $62,440 | 9,120 |
| Ohio | $62,420 | 3,730 |
| Delaware | $62,250 | 340 |
| South Carolina | $62,160 | 2,680 |
| North Dakota | $61,640 | 370 |
| Oklahoma | $61,190 | 1,940 |
| Missouri | $61,120 | 2,100 |
| Montana | $60,970 | 490 |
| North Carolina | $60,920 | 4,400 |
| Vermont | $60,660 | 140 |
| Kansas | $60,600 | 1,200 |
| Iowa | $60,540 | 950 |
| Tennessee | $60,530 | 3,310 |
| Kentucky | $60,490 | 1,440 |
| South Dakota | $59,870 | 600 |
| Wyoming | $58,850 | 210 |
| Arkansas | $57,400 | 1,640 |
| Louisiana | $57,370 | 2,230 |
| New Mexico | $51,780 | 540 |
| Mississippi | $49,810 | 1,110 |
| Alabama | $49,420 | 2,480 |
| West Virginia | $49,110 | 580 |
State median wages for surgical technologists (SOC 29-2055), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for surgical technologists
The BLS projects employment of surgical technologists to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 118,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 124,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 7,100 openings a year for surgical technologists. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a surgical technologist
The typical entry-level education for surgical technologists is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a surgical technologist earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Hawaii, $82,640) and the lowest (West Virginia, $49,110) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 117,460 people work as surgical technologists in the United States. At $64,650 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Surgical technologist salary FAQ
How much does a surgical technologist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a surgical technologist is $31.08. The middle half of surgical technologists earn between $26.29 and $38.34 per hour.
What is the highest surgical technologist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of surgical technologists earn more than $96,940 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a surgical technologist make a year?
The median annual salary for a surgical technologist is $64,650. The average (mean) wage of $68,710 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a surgical technologist a well paid job?
At $64,650 a year, a surgical technologist earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 117,460 people work as surgical technologists in the United States.
Which state pays surgical technologists the most?
Hawaii has the highest median salary for surgical technologists at $82,640 a year. Oregon ($81,390) and California ($81,310) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a surgical technologist a good career?
Employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 7,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a surgical technologist?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for surgical technologists as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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