Surgical Technologist Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$63,000
national median salary
$52,000 to $77,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $64,650 for Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055) across the United States, based on 117,460 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$45,940
25th percentile
$54,690
Median
$64,650
75th percentile
$79,750
90th percentile
$96,940
Workers surveyed
117,460
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$62,830
May 2025 release
$64,650
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055) rather than Surgical Technologistspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-2055Highest Paying
$87,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$66,000
Boston, MA
Lowest Paying
$47,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 29-2055. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Surgical Technologist salary in the United States at $63,000 in 2026, within a range of $52,000 to $77,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $87,000, while Boston offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Surgical specialty drives compensation, with cardiovascular, neuro, and robotic surgery techs earning the most.
Surgical Technologist salary by city.
Skills that increase Surgical Technologist pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Surgical Technologists based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $8,820 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$8,820 per year
≈ +$8,190 per year
≈ +$7,560 per year
≈ +$6,930 per year
≈ +$6,930 per year
≈ +$6,300 per year
≈ +$6,300 per year
≈ +$5,670 per year
What you should know.
Surgical specialty drives compensation, with cardiovascular, neuro, and robotic surgery techs earning the most. Certification through NBSTSA is increasingly required and commands higher pay. Level I trauma centers and academic medical centers pay above community hospitals, and call pay for after-hours coverage adds meaningful income.
New surgical techs start at $45,000 to $50,000 with certification. Experienced techs in specialty ORs earn $58,000 to $68,000 after five years. Lead surgical techs or first assistants can reach $70,000 to $82,000, with surgical first assist certification opening the highest pay tier.
Surgical techs receive call pay of $3 to $6 per hour when on standby, plus overtime for emergency cases. Benefits include health insurance, scrub allowances, and certification renewal reimbursement. Some hospitals offer retention bonuses in tight labor markets.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Surgical Technologists typically earn $57,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Surgical Technologist pay.
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