Radiation Therapists
Median wage · national
$105,310
Range: $92K – $126K
Employed
17K
Openings/yr
700
Typically: associate's degree
HEALTH
Surgical Technologists
Surgical Technologists earn $64,650 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $54,690 and $79,750. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Surgical Technologists
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a surgical technologists: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Allied Health Diagnostic and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
- Median Wage
- $64,650
- Employed Nationally
- 117K
- Openings / Year
- 7,100
- Entry Education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Certified Surgical Technician
Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)
Operating Room Surgical Technician (OR St)
Operating Room Surgical Technologist
Operating Room Technician (OR Tech)
How Much Do Surgical Technologists Make?
Most surgical technologists take home around $64,650 a year, about what a typical college graduate makes. Half earn somewhere between $54,690 and $79,750, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$64,650
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$55K–$80K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$54,690
Entry-level
$64,650
Median
$79,750
Experienced
What Do Surgical Technologists Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
- Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
- Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
- Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.
- Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Monitoring
Active Listening
Operations Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Who Thrives Here
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
Where Do Surgical Technologists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
High
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
What Is the Job Outlook for Surgical Technologists?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +5.0%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 7,100 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +5.0%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
7,100
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
117K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Surgical Technologists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $64,650 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 11,920 | $81,310 | +25.8% |
| 2 | Texas | 10,160 | $65,220 | +0.9% |
| 3 | Florida | 9,120 | $62,440 | -3.4% |
| 4 | New York | 6,540 | $79,550 | +23.0% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 4,490 | $62,680 | -3.0% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a postsecondary nondegree award. The 3 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Medical Assisting program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allied Health Diagnostic | 85,413 | $70,786 | 1,768 |
| 2 | Medical Assisting | 79,189 | $68,559 | 1,600 |
| 3 | Clinical/Medical Laboratory | 19,017 | $75,975 | 966 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Surgical Technologists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 2 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 92 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
| 3 | North Florida College Madison, FL | 91 | $804 | $33,929 |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 6 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | 90 | $14,741 | $80,838 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Surgical Technologists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Surgical Technologists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Surgical Technologists Pros & Cons
The data on Surgical Technologists shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Competitive salary $64,650 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +5.0% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a postsecondary nondegree award, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- Limited annual openings With only 7,100 openings per year relative to field size, competition for available positions is intense. Networking and experience matter more here than in higher-turnover fields.
Surgical Technologists Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Surgical Technologists professionals earn?
Around $64,650 a year for the typical worker, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $54,690 and $79,750. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Surgical Technologists a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $64,650 median, with +5.0% projected growth through 2035, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How do I become a Surgical Technologists?
Most Surgical Technologists positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Allied Health Diagnostic are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Surgical Technologists?
Employment is projected to change by +5.0% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 7,100 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 117K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Surgical Technologists professionals need?
Mainly Monitoring, Active Listening, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, and Speaking. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
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