SOC 29-2055 · BLS occupation: Surgical Technologist · May 2025
Surgical Tech Salary
Surgical Technologists in the US earn a median of $64,650 a year ($33.03 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Surgical Technologist pay climbed from $50,110 in 2019 to $68,710 in 2025, a +37.1% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$64,650
Half of all Surgical Technologists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+37.1% since 2019 · +4.4% YoY
Hourly
$33.03
Job growth 2025-35
+5%
US workers
117,460
BLS series
Annual median wage for Surgical Technologists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Surgical Technologists is $45,940 – $96,940.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$45,940
25th
$54,690
Median
$64,650
75th
$79,750
90th
$96,940
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Surgical Technologists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $45,940 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $54,690 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $64,650 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $79,750 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $96,940 |
Geography
Surgical Technologist pay by state
Surgical Technologists earn the most in Hawaii ($82,640, +28% against the national median) and the least in West Virginia ($49,110). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$64,650
Highest-paying states for surgical technologists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $82,640 | +28% | 290 |
| Oregon | $81,390 | +26% | 1,090 |
| California | $81,310 | +26% | 11,920 |
| Massachusetts | $80,870 | +25% | 2,220 |
| Alaska | $80,380 | +24% | 310 |
| Minnesota | $80,210 | +24% | 1,770 |
| Connecticut | $79,890 | +24% | 1,220 |
| New York | $79,550 | +23% | 6,540 |
| D.C. | $77,520 | +20% | 340 |
| Washington | $77,270 | +20% | 2,510 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | 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 |
| D.C. | $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 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Surgical Technologists
Surgical technologists assist in operating rooms, preparing patients, sterilizing instruments, and passing tools to surgeons during procedures. They work in hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, and physicians' offices, and must complete an accredited program (typically 1–2 years) plus certification.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $45,940 – $96,940. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Hawaii, Oregon and California. Pay in Hawaii runs 1.7 times the level in West Virginia, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as postsecondary nondegree award, and projects about 7,100 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 5% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Surgical Technologist salary in the US?
How much does a Surgical Technologist make an hour?
How much do Surgical Technologists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Surgical Technologists the most?
Is the average Surgical Technologist salary higher than the median?
Is Surgical Technologist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Surgical Technologist roles hiring now
Browse current Surgical Technologist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-2055. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.