Surgical Technologists Career, Salary and Skills
Surgical Technologists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $64,650 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 117,460. Wage data is published for 334 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
29-2055.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$64,650
Hourly median
$31.08
Employment
117,460
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.25 | 3.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.62 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Service Orientation | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Time Management | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
- Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.
- Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
- Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
- Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
- Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.
- Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
- Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
Technology
- Database software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Email software
- Google Drive
- Graphics software
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Nursing documentation software
- Patient scheduling software
- Patient tracking software
- Supply documentation software
Surgical Technologists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Surgical Technologists Salary in CAMedian $81,310 · Employment 11,920
- Surgical Technologists Salary in TXMedian $65,220 · Employment 10,160
- Surgical Technologists Salary in FLMedian $62,440 · Employment 9,120
- Surgical Technologists Salary in NYMedian $79,550 · Employment 6,540
- Surgical Technologists Salary in New York, NYMedian $84,120 · Employment 6,320
- Surgical Technologists Salary in PAMedian $62,680 · Employment 4,490
- Surgical Technologists Salary in NCMedian $60,920 · Employment 4,400
- Surgical Technologists Salary in GAMedian $64,010 · Employment 4,380
- Surgical Technologists Salary in MIMedian $63,320 · Employment 3,840
- Surgical Technologists Salary in OHMedian $62,420 · Employment 3,730
- Surgical Technologists Salary in ILMedian $64,650 · Employment 3,570
- Surgical Technologists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $81,580 · Employment 3,440
Related careers
- Medical AssistantsNational median $45,690
- Ophthalmic Medical TechnologistsNational median $50,290
- Respiratory TherapistsNational median $82,280
- Neurodiagnostic TechnologistsNational median $50,290
- Emergency Medical TechniciansNational median $44,470
- Nurse AnesthetistsNational median $236,590
- AnesthesiologistsNational median $391,490
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except PediatricNational median $358,550
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.