How long does surgical technician training take in Florida?

Most people become a Surgical Technician in Florida through a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program plus CST.

Do surgical technicians need a license in Florida?

No statewide license is required for surgical technicians in Florida. Most employers expect industry certifications such as NBSTSA CST.

How to Become a Surgical Technician in Florida (2026)

Q: How much do surgical technicians earn in Florida?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), surgical technicians in Florida earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,440. Employment concentration in Florida is about 1.22 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for surgical technicians in Florida?

Florida currently employs approximately 9,120 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Florida surgical technologists earn a median annual wage of $62,440 ($30.02/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 9,120 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -3.4% below the national median of $64,650 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,440 ($30.02/hr)
25th percentile: $52,410 per year
75th percentile: $75,170 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $85,620 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $41,270 per year
Workers employed in Florida: 9,120
Versus national median: -3.4% below the U.S. median of $64,650
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.22 - this occupation is more concentrated in Florida than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Florida employs about 9,120 surgical technicians earning a median $62,440 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Surgical Technician here means completing a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program plus CST.

Key Facts

Median wage (Florida): $62,440/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Florida: 9,120 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.22x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 4.5% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Surgical Technician Schools in Florida

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	St Petersburg College	74.6	Contact school for pricing	$54,088	Not reported	Yes*	67 mi
2	South Florida State College	73.8	$3,165 - $11,859	$48,619	49%	Yes*	19 mi
3	Traviss Technical College	73.3	Contact school for pricing	$38,755	86%	—	26 mi
4	Eastern Florida State College	63.6	$2,496 - $11,966	$49,053	52%	Yes*	59 mi
5	Manatee Technical College	62.2	Contact school for pricing	$45,049	72%	—	66 mi
6	Hillsborough Community College	61.2	Contact school for pricing	$49,784	34%	Yes*	54 mi
7	Erwin Technical College	60.6	Contact school for pricing	$41,518	80%	—	53 mi
8	Orange Technical College	49.6	Contact school for pricing	$34,945	Not reported	—	49 mi
9	Concorde Career Institute-Orlando	44.8	Contact school for pricing	$40,001	66%	—	51 mi
10	Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg	42.2	Contact school for pricing	$40,318	Not reported	Yes*	68 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Florida employs approximately 9,120 surgical technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,440 ¹. The state’s concentration of surgical technician jobs is 1.22x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, surgical technician employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Surgical Technician in Florida, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program plus CST
Exam: NBSTSA CST
Median wage (Florida): $62,440 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Surgical Technician in Florida

How to become a Surgical Technician in Florida? Complete a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program plus CST. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program plus CST. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Florida? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect NBSTSA CST. See the licensing section below.

What do surgical technicians earn in Florida? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Florida is $62,440 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $41,270 and experienced professionals can earn $85,620 or more ¹.

How to Become a Surgical Technician in Florida

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete an accredited surgical technology program. Finish a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program in Florida. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass CST. Pass the NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist exam.
Confirm state registration. Some states register surgical technologists. Confirm with the program and employer rather than assuming a statewide license everywhere.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Surgical Technician License Requirements in Florida

Surgical technologists typically complete a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program and pass CST. Some states add registration.

Typical path

Complete an accredited surgical technology program.
Pass CST.
Register with the state if required.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Surgical Technician Wages by Metro Area in Florida

Surgical Technologists Wages by Metro Area in Florida

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), surgical technologists wages in Florida vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach	2,200	$65,520	$70,230	$42,140	$101,130
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford	1,490	$61,730	$61,920	$39,950	$79,080
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater	1,260	$62,910	$66,670	$45,990	$98,160
Jacksonville	850	$64,070	$65,900	$47,210	$79,340
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota	380	$60,840	$60,110	$41,270	$79,900
Cape Coral-Fort Myers	350	$61,780	$63,230	$39,030	$78,580
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach	340	$59,400	$58,970	$37,170	$77,370
Lakeland-Winter Haven	280	$59,540	$58,820	$44,150	$68,160
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville	230	$50,500	$54,760	$37,010	$72,810
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent	220	$60,520	$62,560	$45,930	$79,290
Port St. Lucie	200	$65,780	$67,600	$45,410	$103,790
Tallahassee	170	$52,190	$50,220	$32,800	$71,150
Ocala	140	$59,070	$59,750	$37,950	$78,120
Naples-Marco Island	110	$64,910	$66,170	$52,160	$81,130
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin	90	$61,830	$60,270	$44,810	$76,390
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor	80	$63,530	$63,120	$39,460	$79,700
Panama City-Panama City Beach	70	$58,570	$54,020	$36,440	$73,330
Punta Gorda	50	$62,450	$60,480	$44,790	$75,710

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for surgical technicians in Florida? Florida currently employs approximately 9,120 surgical technicians ¹. Nationally, surgical technician employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Florida? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Florida.

How much do surgical technicians earn in Florida compared to the national average? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Florida is $62,440, which is $390 below the national median of $62,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In Florida

Florida Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Florida

Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)