Surgical Technologist salary in the U.S.
Surgical Technologists in the U.S. earn a median of $64,650 a year ($31.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 117,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,940 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $68,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for surgical technologists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,940 | $22.09 |
| 25th percentile | $54,690 | $26.29 |
| Median | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| 75th percentile | $79,750 | $38.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,940 | $46.61 |
| Average (mean) | $68,710 | $33.03 |
Half of surgical technologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,387.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,693.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,486.54 |
| Weekly | $1,243.27 |
| Hourly | $31.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Surgical Technologist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,600 | 1,080 |
Best-paying metro areas for surgical technologists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $106,840 | 700 |
| Vallejo, CA | $105,260 | 100 |
| Napa, CA | $102,490 | 60 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $100,130 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $99,960 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,390 | 1,440 |
| Redding, CA | $89,940 | 80 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $87,330 | 230 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $86,790 | 250 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $84,120 | 6,320 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $83,580 | 380 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $82,860 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $82,430 | 650 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $82,300 | 170 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,260 | 1,110 |
Metro areas with the most surgical technologists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 6,320 | $84,120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,440 | $81,580 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,790 | $79,990 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,660 | $71,050 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,530 | $66,360 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,400 | $67,570 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,200 | $65,520 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,020 | $69,650 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,790 | $78,050 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,670 | $65,810 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,550 | $81,500 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,490 | $61,730 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,460 | $79,900 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,440 | $99,390 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,430 | $78,750 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | $38.52 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Paramedic | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,310 | $35.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2055. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surgical technologist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for surgical technologists in the U.S. is $64,650 a year, or $31.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid surgical technologists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of surgical technologists in the U.S. earn at least $96,940 a year. The top 25% earn $79,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for surgical technologists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,940 a year, and a quarter of surgical technologists earn $54,690 or less.
How many surgical technologists work in the U.S.?
About 117,460 surgical technologists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.