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

"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 Mississippi?"

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

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

"In Mississippi, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information."

How to Become A Surgical Technician in Mississippi

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), surgical technicians in Mississippi earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,810. Employment concentration in Mississippi is about 1.26 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Mississippi currently employs approximately 1,110 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

Mississippi surgical technologists earn a median annual wage of $49,810 ($23.95/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,110 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -23.0% below the national median of $64,650 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $49,810 ($23.95/hr)
25th percentile: $47,120 per year
75th percentile: $59,590 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $66,300 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,800 per year
Workers employed in Mississippi: 1,110
Versus national median: -23.0% below the U.S. median of $64,650
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.26 - this occupation is more concentrated in Mississippi than the national average

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

Mississippi employs approximately 1,110 surgical technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,810 ¹. The state’s concentration of surgical technician jobs is 1.26x 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 Mississippi, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Surgical Technician in Mississippi

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

What do surgical technicians earn in Mississippi? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Mississippi is $49,810 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,800 and experienced professionals can earn $66,300 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 (Mississippi): $49,810 per year ¹

Surgical Technician Certification Options in Mississippi

Mississippi 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 Mississippi for details on certification preparation courses.

Surgical Technician Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

Surgical Technologists Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	630	$61,150	$60,050	$49,390	$77,630
Jackson	320	$59,990	$57,460	$40,580	$70,050
Hattiesburg	210	$48,610	$51,890	$38,740	$61,800
Gulfport-Biloxi	80	$50,120	$51,800	$42,040	$59,890

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 Mississippi

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Jackson	320	$59,990
Hattiesburg	210	$48,610
Gulfport-Biloxi	80	$50,120

Explore More Trades in Mississippi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for surgical technicians in Mississippi? Mississippi currently employs approximately 1,110 surgical technicians ¹. Nationally, surgical technician employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do surgical technicians earn in Mississippi compared to the national average? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Mississippi is $49,810, which is $13,020 below 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)