How long does surgical technician training take in Montana?

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

Do surgical technicians need a license in Montana?

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

How to Become a Surgical Technician in Montana (2026)

Q: How much do surgical technicians earn in Montana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), surgical technicians in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,970. Employment concentration in Montana is about 1.26 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Montana currently employs approximately 490 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

Montana surgical technologists earn a median annual wage of $60,970 ($29.31/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 490 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.7% below the national median of $64,650 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,970 ($29.31/hr)
25th percentile: $49,170 per year
75th percentile: $70,580 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $79,330 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,690 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 490
Versus national median: -5.7% below the U.S. median of $64,650
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.26 - this occupation is more concentrated in Montana than the national average

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

Montana employs about 490 surgical technicians earning a median $60,970 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Surgical Technician here means completing a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program plus CST.

Compare Surgical Technician Schools in Montana

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. 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 (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Spokane Community College	68.4	$5,461 in-state / $6,612 out-of-state	$52,567	33%	Yes*	304 mi
2	College of Southern Idaho	68.2	$3,360 in-state / $6,840 out-of-state	$46,129	33%	Yes*	344 mi
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3	College of Eastern Idaho	66.6	$3,390 in-state / $6,750 out-of-state	$55,123	39%	Yes*	243 mi
4	Columbia Basin College	61.3	$6,555 in-state / $8,668 out-of-state	$67,608	33%	—	389 mi
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5	Western Dakota Technical College	60.4	$8,294	$49,930	54%	Yes*	426 mi
6	Flathead Valley Community College	54.5	$4,912 in-state / $11,659 out-of-state	$47,642	29%	Yes*	180 mi
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7	College of Western Idaho	50.7	$3,446 in-state / $7,454 out-of-state	$47,903	31%	Yes*	352 mi
8	Davis Technical College	47.9	Contact school for pricing	$47,706	57%	—	409 mi
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9	North Idaho College	46.4	$3,396 in-state / $8,736 out-of-state	$50,312	38%	Yes*	277 mi
10	Great Falls College Montana State University	45.7	$4,028 in-state / $12,911 out-of-state	$48,830	34%	Yes*	42 mi
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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.

Montana employs approximately 490 surgical technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,970 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 Montana, 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 (Montana): $60,970 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Surgical Technician in Montana

How to become a Surgical Technician in Montana? 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 Montana? 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 Montana? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Montana is $60,970 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,690 and experienced professionals can earn $79,330 or more ¹.

How to Become a Surgical Technician in Montana

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 Montana. 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 Montana

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 Montana

Surgical Technologists Wages by Metro Area in Montana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Billings	140	$54,920	$56,560	$37,690	$78,250
Missoula	70	$64,030	$60,420	$36,410	$92,340
Bozeman	50	$65,600	$69,870	$40,250	$100,880
Helena	40	$62,910	$61,410	$37,110	$91,150

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 Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 490 surgical technicians ¹. Nationally, surgical technician employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do surgical technicians earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Montana is $60,970, which is $1,860 below the national median of $62,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In Montana

Best Trade Schools in Montana (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Montana

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)