"How long does it take to become a surgical technician in Illinois?"

"Most paths into the surgical technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do surgical technicians need a license in Illinois?"

"No statewide license is required for surgical technicians in Illinois. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CST (Certified Surgical Technologist)."

"What apprenticeships are available for surgical technicians in Illinois?"

"In Illinois, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Surgical Technician in Illinois

Q: "How much do surgical technicians earn in Illinois?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), surgical technicians in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $64,650. Employment concentration in Illinois is roughly 0.78 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

"Illinois currently employs approximately 3,570 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

Illinois surgical technologists earn a median annual wage of $64,650 ($31.08/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,570 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.0% matches the national median of $64,650 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $64,650 ($31.08/hr)
25th percentile: $60,160 per year
75th percentile: $77,670 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $91,890 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,560 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 3,570
Versus national median: 0.0% matches the U.S. median of $64,650
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.78 - this occupation is less concentrated in Illinois than the national average

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

Illinois employs approximately 3,570 surgical technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $64,650 ¹. 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 Illinois, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Surgical Technician in Illinois

How do I become a surgical technician in Illinois? Illinois does not require a state license for surgical technicians, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as CST (Certified Surgical Technologist). Complete a training program to prepare.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Illinois? No state license is required, but certifications such as CST (Certified Surgical Technologist) are expected by most employers.

What do surgical technicians earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Illinois is $64,650 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,560 and experienced professionals can earn $91,890 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Illinois): $64,650 per year ¹

Surgical Technician Certification Options in Illinois

Illinois does not require a state license to work as a surgical technician. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for surgical technicians include:

CST (Certified Surgical Technologist)

For more information, visit the NBSTSA - National Board of Surgical Technology ³. Contact training programs in Illinois for details on certification preparation courses.

Surgical Technician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Surgical Technologists Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), surgical technologists wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	2,530	$66,360	$73,090	$50,590	$94,030
St. Louis	810	$61,790	$61,840	$46,300	$77,180
Peoria	180	$59,470	$63,110	$45,860	$74,520
Rockford	160	$61,740	$64,120	$47,730	$77,810
Springfield	130	$62,590	$66,080	$50,300	$78,890
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	110	$60,520	$62,340	$51,070	$75,690
Bloomington	80	$68,140	$68,170	$48,970	$84,500
Paducah	60	$57,570	$61,770	$41,210	$77,540
Cape Girardeau	60	$49,880	$51,650	$38,100	$67,620
Kankakee	40	$59,940	$58,370	$40,900	$69,940

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 2025.

Top Metros for Surgical technicians in Illinois

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest surgical technician employment within Illinois according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	2,530	$66,360
Peoria	180	$59,470
Rockford	160	$61,740
Springfield	130	$62,590
Bloomington	80	$68,140

Explore More Trades in Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for surgical technicians in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 3,570 surgical technicians ¹. Nationally, surgical technician employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Illinois.

How much do surgical technicians earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Illinois is $64,650, which is $1,820 above the national median of $62,830 according to BLS data ¹.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NBSTSA - National Board of Surgical Technology: https://www.nbstsa.org/ ↩︎

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)