How long does surgical technician training take in Rhode Island?

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

Do surgical technicians need a license in Rhode Island?

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

How to Become a Surgical Technician in Rhode Island (2026)

Q: How much do surgical technicians earn in Rhode Island?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), surgical technicians in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of approximately $74,130. Employment concentration in Rhode Island is roughly 0.63 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 Rhode Island?

Rhode Island currently employs approximately 240 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

Rhode Island surgical technologists earn a median annual wage of $74,130 ($35.64/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 240 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 14.7% above the national median of $64,650 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $74,130 ($35.64/hr)
25th percentile: $63,800 per year
75th percentile: $81,520 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $101,850 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $49,910 per year
Workers employed in Rhode Island: 240
Versus national median: 14.7% above the U.S. median of $64,650
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.63 - this occupation is less concentrated in Rhode Island than the national average

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

Rhode Island employs about 240 surgical technicians earning a median $74,130 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 Rhode Island

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	Charles H McCann Technical School	74.3	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	100%	—	104 mi
2	Suffolk County Community College	68.2	$6,630 in-state / $12,460 out-of-state	$50,418	29%	Yes*	106 mi
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3	New England Institute of Technology	62.3	$37,275	$62,151	60%	Yes*	10 mi
4	Springfield Technical Community College	58.4	$5,904 in-state / $11,112 out-of-state	$51,917	32%	Yes*	63 mi
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5	Massachusetts Bay Community College	58.1	$5,856 in-state / $10,800 out-of-state	$56,076	17%	Yes*	37 mi
6	Quinsigamond Community College	58.1	$6,262 in-state / $11,206 out-of-state	$55,076	22%	Yes*	41 mi
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7	Bunker Hill Community College	55.2	$6,168 in-state / $11,112 out-of-state	$56,376	13%	Yes*	44 mi
8	Quincy College	49.7	$8,938	$59,190	15%	Yes*	39 mi
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9	Connecticut State Community College	47.6	$5,338 in-state / $15,596 out-of-state	$50,130	24%	Yes*	64 mi
10	North Shore Community College	46.7	$5,352 in-state / $10,920 out-of-state	$54,714	18%	—	60 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.

Rhode Island employs approximately 240 surgical technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $74,130 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 Rhode Island, 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 (Rhode Island): $74,130 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Surgical Technician in Rhode Island

How to become a Surgical Technician in Rhode Island? 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 Rhode Island? 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 Rhode Island? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Rhode Island is $74,130 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $49,910 and experienced professionals can earn $101,850 or more ¹.

How to Become a Surgical Technician in Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island

Surgical Technologists Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick	380	$77,270	$76,030	$54,540	$96,710

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for surgical technicians in Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 240 surgical technicians ¹. Nationally, surgical technician employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do surgical technicians earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Rhode Island is $74,130, which is $11,300 above the national median of $62,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In Rhode Island

Best Trade Schools in Rhode Island (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Rhode Island

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)