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

"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 York?"

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

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

"In New York, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New York Office of 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 York

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), surgical technicians in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $79,550. Employment concentration in New York is roughly 0.89 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 York?"

"New York currently employs approximately 6,540 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 York employs approximately 6,540 surgical technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $79,550 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 York, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Surgical Technician in New York

How do I become a surgical technician in New York? New York 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 York? 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 York? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in New York is $79,550 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $53,680 and experienced professionals can earn $105,330 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 York): $79,550 per year ¹

Surgical Technician Certification Options in New York

New York 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 York for details on certification preparation courses.

Surgical Technician Wages by Metro Area in New York

Surgical Technologists Wages by Metro Area in New York

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), surgical technologists wages in New York 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
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	560	$77,440	$85,200	$61,030	$134,890
Rochester	340	$60,780	$61,810	$40,370	$74,520
Syracuse	310	$63,270	$65,160	$49,400	$83,670
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	280	$64,070	$66,390	$48,200	$81,200
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	180	$75,390	$76,470	$60,020	$93,530
Utica-Rome	60	$60,860	$62,170	$46,230	$76,760
Ithaca	30	$77,760	$76,460	$58,100	$90,080

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 York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
New York-Newark-Jersey City	6,320	$84,120
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	560	$77,440
Rochester	340	$60,780
Syracuse	310	$63,270
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	280	$64,070

Explore More Trades in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for surgical technicians in New York? New York currently employs approximately 6,540 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 York? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New York.

How much do surgical technicians earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in New York is $79,550, which is $16,720 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)