How to become a surgical tech

Industry. The annual median pay for a surgical tech was $45,160 or $21.71 per hour, as reported by the BLS in 2016. This salary exceeds the national median salary of $37,040 per year. You can make the most money working at a large surgery center or specialty clinic.

Job security is one of the most attractive benefits of any career in the healthcare field, and surgical technology is no exception. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2018 and 2028, employment opportunities for surgical technologists will grow at a faster-than-average rate of nine percent.

Can a Surgical Tech Become a Surgeon? Though it’s rare for a surgical technologist to go attend medical school, it’s definitely not unheard of!

In addition, RNs earn higher salaries on average than surgical techs. According to the BLS, registered nurses on average earned more than $71,000 per year in 2018, compared with $47,000 per year for surgical techs.

If you are a surgical tech, you are already on a great career path. If you want to continue to advance, surgical assisting is the natural next step. Within this role, you have the opportunity to increase your salary, take on more responsibilities, and assist patients in a more hands-on manner.

Technologists also get patients ready for surgery by washing, shaving, and disinfecting incision sites. During surgery, technologists pass instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons and surgical assistants. They may hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

Surgical technologists may choose to advance to other healthcare occupations, such as registered nurse. Advancement to other healthcare occupations would usually require additional education, training, and/or certifications or licenses.

Job Outlook

Employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. Advances in medical technology have made surgery safer, and more operations are being done to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries.

A surgical technician job can be a stressful and physically demanding job for a number of reasons: Long working hours. Physical demands. May need to be on-call, or work night shifts and weekends.

During the operation, they hand instruments to the surgeon or put on dressings. Phlebotomists insert needles into a patient’s vein to obtain blood specimens for laboratory testing, ensure blood is stored and labeled properly, and transport specimens.

Getting Your Degree. Surgical tech programs usually take between 12 and 24 months to complete. While many medical careers require a specific degree to join the field, surgical technologists have three options for their level of education: a certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree.

What is the average salary for a surgical technologist? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for surgical technologists in 2020 was $51,510 per year ($24.77 per hour), with the top 10 percent earning more than $73,100.

Pro: Enjoy a Good Salary as a Surgical Tech

The median wage for surgical technologists in the U.S. in May of 2019 was $23.22 per hour or $48,300 per year. There are great opportunities to earn a good living as a surgical tech, to earn more with experience, and to enjoy benefits like health care in full time positions.

Best-Paying States for Surgical Technologists

The states and districts that pay Surgical Technologists the highest mean salary are Alaska ($67,660), Nevada ($64,050), California ($62,510), District of Columbia ($60,740), and Minnesota ($60,090).

How Much Does a Radiologic Technologist Make? Radiologic Technologists made a median salary of $60,510 in 2019. The best-paid 25 percent made $74,660 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $49,580.