How long does surgical technician training take in Louisiana?

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

Do surgical technicians need a license in Louisiana?

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

How to Become a Surgical Technician in Louisiana (2026)

Q: How much do surgical technicians earn in Louisiana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), surgical technicians in Louisiana earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,370. Employment concentration in Louisiana is about 1.53 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Louisiana currently employs approximately 2,230 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

Louisiana surgical technologists earn a median annual wage of $57,370 ($27.58/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -11.3% below the national median of $64,650 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $57,370 ($27.58/hr)
25th percentile: $47,410 per year
75th percentile: $62,790 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $74,650 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,580 per year
Workers employed in Louisiana: 2,230
Versus national median: -11.3% below the U.S. median of $64,650
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.53 - this occupation is more concentrated in Louisiana than the national average

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

Louisiana employs about 2,230 surgical technicians earning a median $57,370 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 (Louisiana): $57,370/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Louisiana: 2,230 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.53x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 4.5% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Surgical Technician Schools in Louisiana

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	Hinds Community College	53.6	Contact school for pricing	$40,042	Not reported	Yes*	118 mi
2	Pearl River Community College	52.2	Contact school for pricing	$43,603	Not reported	Yes*	131 mi
3	SOWELA Technical Community College	49.8	Contact school for pricing	$60,488	Not reported	Yes*	99 mi
4	Fletcher Technical Community College	45.6	Contact school for pricing	$53,749	Not reported	Yes*	102 mi
5	Baton Rouge Community College	43.7	Contact school for pricing	$45,313	Not reported	Yes*	52 mi
6	Lamar State College-Port Arthur	42.9	Contact school for pricing	$46,272	Not reported	—	150 mi
7	Bossier Parish Community College	42.3	Contact school for pricing	$43,033	14%	Yes*	155 mi
8	Delgado Community College	41.7	Contact school for pricing	$48,141	23%	Yes*	120 mi
9	Herzing University-New Orleans	37.5	$13,450 - $28,414	$58,575	30%	Yes*	116 mi
10	Louisiana State University-Eunice	31.6	Contact school for pricing	$54,639	16%	Yes*	54 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.

Louisiana employs approximately 2,230 surgical technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,370 ¹. The state’s concentration of surgical technician jobs is 1.53x 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 Louisiana, 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 (Louisiana): $57,370 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Surgical Technician in Louisiana

How to become a Surgical Technician in Louisiana? 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 Louisiana? 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 Louisiana? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Louisiana is $57,370 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,580 and experienced professionals can earn $74,650 or more ¹.

How to Become a Surgical Technician in Louisiana

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 Louisiana. 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 Louisiana

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 Louisiana

Surgical Technologists Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New Orleans-Metairie	590	$58,660	$58,770	$35,640	$75,600
Baton Rouge	470	$60,230	$55,570	$30,770	$76,560
Shreveport-Bossier City	230	$51,770	$53,420	$40,910	$66,460
Lafayette	220	$53,770	$56,270	$38,810	$70,610
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington	170	$59,100	$56,450	$45,880	$69,980
Alexandria	100	$50,960	$50,700	$36,850	$64,720
Monroe	90	$56,790	$53,880	$38,090	$62,040
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux	80	$52,780	$55,600	$44,770	$69,420
Hammond	60	$61,090	$59,210	$37,580	$75,790
Lake Charles	60	$58,850	$56,190	$39,850	$69,290

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 Louisiana? Louisiana currently employs approximately 2,230 surgical technicians ¹. Nationally, surgical technician employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do surgical technicians earn in Louisiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Louisiana is $57,370, which is $5,460 below the national median of $62,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In Louisiana

Best Trade Schools in Louisiana (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Louisiana

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)