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

"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 Massachusetts?"

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

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

"In Massachusetts, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Training, 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 Massachusetts

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), surgical technicians in Massachusetts earned a median annual wage of approximately $80,870. Employment concentration in Massachusetts is roughly 0.81 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 Massachusetts?"

"Massachusetts currently employs approximately 2,220 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

Massachusetts employs approximately 2,220 surgical technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $80,870 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 Massachusetts, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Surgical Technician in Massachusetts

How do I become a surgical technician in Massachusetts? Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts? No state license is required, but certifications such as CST (Certified Surgical Technologist) are expected by most employers.

What do surgical technicians earn in Massachusetts? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Massachusetts is $80,870 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $60,350 and experienced professionals can earn $109,550 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 (Massachusetts): $80,870 per year ¹

Surgical Technician Certification Options in Massachusetts

Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts for details on certification preparation courses.

Surgical Technician Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

Surgical Technologists Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton	1,550	$81,500	$85,810	$61,690	$116,340
Providence-Warwick	380	$77,270	$76,030	$54,540	$96,710
Springfield	220	$78,510	$78,350	$66,560	$91,720
Worcester	210	$77,610	$80,800	$58,750	$97,990
Barnstable Town	50	$82,860	$78,640	$63,840	$95,730
Pittsfield	30	$69,040	$82,550	$58,930	$89,710

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 2025.

Top Metros for Surgical technicians in Massachusetts

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Boston-Cambridge-Newton	1,550	$81,500
Springfield	220	$78,510
Worcester	210	$77,610
Barnstable Town	50	$82,860
Pittsfield	30	$69,040

Explore More Trades in Massachusetts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for surgical technicians in Massachusetts? Massachusetts currently employs approximately 2,220 surgical technicians ¹. Nationally, surgical technician employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do surgical technicians earn in Massachusetts compared to the national average? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Massachusetts is $80,870, which is $18,040 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)