According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for a surgical technician was $39,920 in 2010. Salaries continue to grow, giving surgical technicians certain stability and room to grow as they accrue experience and specialization.
Average Surgical Technician Salaries
It may come as no surprise that surgical technician wages can vary depending on the setting where they are found. The following are a few of those options and their most recent average salaries* for surgical technician positions:
Hospital
$40,780
Physician’s office
$42,690
Dentist’s office
$37,470
Outpatient Care Centers
$42,480
(*May 2010)
Pay rates for surgical technicians have been steadily rising, and this trend is expected to continue. For example, in 2006 the average salary for surgical technicians was $36,080, compared to $38,740 in 2008. A growth of 10.6% in only four years is perfectly respectable.
The really good news is that the demand for surgical technicians is expected to rise and that will most likely force salaries higher. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics says: “Employment of Surgical Technicians is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. Job opportunities will be best for technicians who are certified.”
Starting Your New Career
Of course, before you can reach the top of the salary ladder, you have to start somewhere. According to Payscale.com, the surgical technician median pay for people who have been working less than one year is $31,273.
That is an excellent beginning pay, and the reported data indicates that surgical technicians receive pay increases as they gain experience. For example, Payscale.com finds that the median salary for people on the job between one to four years is $34,486.
A little research will show that the surgical technician salary is the highest paid for a medical position that does not require a four-year degree. But not all technicians are paid a monthly salary. Some are paid by the hour. The hourly median wages for surgical tech positions is a rate of $18.62. The hourly rate ranges from $13.23 to $26.11 which equates to an annual wage of $27,510 to $54,300.
Moving Up the Ladder
While you start your career as a surgical technician, you can choose a career path that includes a series of promotions:
From surgical technician to surgical first assistant
From general surgical technician to surgical first assistant
Specialize in a particular type of surgical field, such as open heart surgery
Assume administrative responsibilities in a non-medical organization
Factors Affecting Surgical Technician Salaries
There are several factors that can affect the salary for surgical technician positions.
Type of Employment Facility
Where you work has a direct impact on the average salary. The pay scale for surgical technician positions tends to be higher for positions in medical facilities (median $39,500) as opposed to positions with colleges and universities ($34,100).
The lowest median rate is for those surgical technicians working for franchise medical centers ($29,500). The next lowest is for those who are self employed ($31,400). But most people understand that there are some advantages to being self-employed, like more flexible work hours that offset the lower salary or hourly rates.
Credentials
Credentials have a big impact on a surgical tech salary. As the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting [NBSTSA] so aptly describes the benefits of certification, “Certification is a means for upward mobility, a condition for employment, a route to higher pay and a source of recognition nationwide.”
Surgical technicians who specialize generally earn higher salaries than those who do not. There are many different kinds of certifications, such as the Certified Surgical Technician [CST] and the Tech in Surgery-Certified [TS-C] designation.
The Association of Surgical Technicians [AST] outlines the monetary advantages surgical technicians gain through certification as follows:
CST’s earn from .50 cents to $5 more per hour over non-certified technicians
The most typical increased rate ranged between $1 and $1.99 per hour
For the 16.9% of CST’s who earned the extra $5 per hour, they earned an additional $10,000 annually
Nearly half of respondents said their employers compensated them for maintaining their credentials.
Years of Experience
Employers value experience in surgical technicians, and salaries increase as time on the job grows. Payscale.com reports the following information:
Less than one year
$32,700
1 to 4 years
$34,200
5 to 9 years
$38,900
10 to 19 years
$44,100
20 years and up
$53,500
You can make even more by combining your experience with your certifications to solicit a competitive salary.
Location
In general, wages in a large metropolitan area will be higher than wages in smaller cities and rural areas. But the salary and hourly rates for technicians can also vary between metropolitan cities in the same region. For example, the US Department of Labor reports that surgical technicians average $19.47 per hour in Atlanta, GA and $17.61 in Chattanooga, TN. As well, average salaries in Minnesota are $47,600, but Rochester, MN (home of the Mayo Clinic) finds surgical technicians averaging $52,510 annually.
The state where you work as a surgical technician also makes a difference. In 2010, the top five highest-paying states included Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska, District of Columbia, and California. It is possible to look up your state’s average by reviewing the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ wage information pertaining to surgical technicians.
