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

"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 New Jersey?"

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

"What apprenticeships are available for surgical technicians in New Jersey?"

"In New Jersey, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - 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 New Jersey

Q: "How much do surgical technicians earn in New Jersey?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), surgical technicians in New Jersey earned a median annual wage of approximately $77,200. Employment concentration in New Jersey is roughly 0.86 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 New Jersey?"

"New Jersey currently employs approximately 2,780 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

New Jersey employs approximately 2,780 surgical technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $77,200 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 New Jersey, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Surgical Technician in New Jersey

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

What do surgical technicians earn in New Jersey? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in New Jersey is $77,200 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,270 and experienced professionals can earn $100,490 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 (New Jersey): $77,200 per year ¹

Surgical Technician Certification Options in New Jersey

New Jersey 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 New Jersey for details on certification preparation courses.

Surgical Technician Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

Surgical Technologists Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	6,320	$84,120	$84,590	$58,810	$104,780
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	2,020	$69,650	$67,490	$48,790	$79,980
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	370	$62,250	$62,140	$48,350	$75,020
Atlantic City-Hammonton	160	$63,250	$59,770	$38,960	$80,390
Trenton-Princeton	150	$70,610	$70,990	$53,780	$90,310

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 New Jersey

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Atlantic City-Hammonton	160	$63,250
Trenton-Princeton	150	$70,610

Explore More Trades in New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for surgical technicians in New Jersey? New Jersey currently employs approximately 2,780 surgical technicians ¹. Nationally, surgical technician employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do surgical technicians earn in New Jersey compared to the national average? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in New Jersey is $77,200, which is $14,370 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)