Surgical techs in Texas earn a median $65,220 a year (BLS OEWS, 2025), and Mcallen sits within reach of accredited training. Compare CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited certificate and associate degree programs near Mcallen, plan your clinical rotations, and prepare for the NBSTSA CST exam.
Key Facts
Texas median wage: $65,220/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Schools below are sorted by distance from Mcallen (closest first). Compare program length, schedule, accreditation, and credential alignment.
How We Rank Schools
Local school lists are ordered by location first, using the distance from the city or state page you are viewing.
Each eligible school also shows a BOC Score, computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Primary local sort
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
#1
Del Mar College
📍
Corpus Christi, TX
•118.5 miles away•BOC Score
45.8
Surgical Technologists employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year
Employment
2024
115,600
2034 projected
120,800
Percent change
+4.5%
Surgical Tech Pay & Outlook
Surgical technologists in Texas earn a median of $65,220 per year, ranging from about $39,950 (10th percentile) to $92,580 (90th percentile) (BLS OEWS, 2025).
Texas employed about 10,160 surgical technologists (BLS OEWS, 2025).
Nationally, BLS projects employment to change about +4.5% over 2024–2034, with roughly 7,000 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections, 2025).
Texas Quick Facts
Location quotient: 0.96 (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025) — concentration of surgical tech jobs relative to the U.S. average.
Mean hourly wage: $32.04 (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Title regulation: Surgical tech licensing is set at the state level; confirm current requirements with the Texas health board.
How to Become a Surgical Tech in Texas
Enroll in an accredited surgical technology program. Complete a certificate, diploma, or associate degree in surgical technology from a program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES.
Complete clinical rotations. Finish supervised clinical rotations in an operating room, mastering sterile technique, instrumentation, and case setup.
Pass a national certification exam. Sit for the NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam or the NCCT Tech in Surgery-Certified (TS-C) exam, based on employer preference.
Apply for surgical tech positions. Apply to hospitals and outpatient surgery centers; many employers list CST certification as a hiring or advancement requirement.
Pathways & Clinical Hours
Surgical technology is learned through accredited classroom-plus-clinical programs rather than registered apprenticeships. Programs combine lab work on instrument sets with supervised operating-room rotations; total clinical hours vary by school, so confirm requirements with each program and the state health board.
What You Study
Sterile technique, aseptic practice, and infection control
Surgical instrumentation and case setup
Anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology
Operating-room roles and patient safety
Supervised clinical rotations
Choosing a Surgical Tech Program
Confirm accreditation recognized by CAAHEP or ABHES first.
Ask about lab time on instrument sets and simulation equipment.
Compare evening, weekend, and accelerated schedules that fit your life.
Review clinical placement support and certification exam pass rates. Individual outcomes may vary.
Surgical technologists in Texas earned a median wage of $65,220 per year (BLS OEWS, 2025). Pay varies by employer, shift, and experience.
Is surgical technology a growing career?
BLS projects employment of surgical technologists to change about +4.5% over the 2024–2034 decade (BLS Employment Projections, 2025), with roughly 7,000 openings a year.
How long is a surgical tech program near Mcallen?
Most surgical technology programs take about 12 to 24 months. Certificate and diploma tracks are shorter, while associate degrees run roughly two years. Confirm the schedule with each school.
What certification do surgical techs need?
Many employers prefer the NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential or the NCCT Tech in Surgery-Certified (TS-C). Requirements vary by employer; some states regulate the title.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
