What is the average surgical tech salary in the U.S.?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $64,650 for Surgical Technologists (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,940, and the top 10 percent earned more than $96,940.

Which states pay surgical techs the most?

Per BLS state data (May 2025), Hawaii leads with a median of about $82,640, followed by Oregon ($81,390), California ($81,310), Massachusetts ($80,870), and Alaska ($80,380).

Does CST certification raise surgical tech pay?

The Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from NBSTSA is the most widely recognized in the field and is often required by employers. Some states explicitly require CST or equivalent certification, which can be a factor in pay and hiring.

How does surgical assistant pay compare to surgical tech pay?

BLS tracks Surgical Assistants (29-9093) separately. Their May 2025 median annual wage was $66,800, with a 90th percentile of $107,610. Surgical assistants typically take on broader intraoperative duties and may earn more in some markets, but pay distributions overlap.

Surgical Tech Salary 2026: National, By State, By Specialty

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Wondering what surgical technologists actually earn in 2026, and how specialty and certification shape pay? This page focuses on salary, BLS data, and earning growth.

Surgical technologists (often called scrub techs, surgical techs, or operating room technicians) prepare operating rooms, sterilize instruments, and assist surgeons during procedures. Pay varies meaningfully by state, employer, and specialty.

National median pay

Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program (May 2025 release):

Median annual wage: $64,650
10th percentile: $45,940
25th percentile: $54,690
75th percentile: $79,750
90th percentile: $96,940

Source: BLS OEWS, Surgical Technologists (29-2055), May 2025.

Pay by experience level

Using BLS percentiles as an experience proxy:

Entry level (10th to 25th percentile): about $45,940 to $54,690 per year (BLS, May 2025).
Mid career (around the median): about $64,650 per year (BLS, May 2025).
Experienced (75th to 90th percentile): about $79,750 to $96,940 per year (BLS, May 2025).

CST certified graduates of CAAHEP or ABHES accredited surgical technology programs typically start near the lower end of this range.

Pay by state

The five highest paying states for surgical technologists per BLS OEWS, May 2025:

Rank	State	Median Annual Wage
1	Hawaii	$82,640
2	Oregon	$81,390
3	California	$81,310
4	Massachusetts	$80,870
5	Alaska	$80,380

The lowest median wages were reported in West Virginia ($49,110), Alabama ($49,420), and Mississippi ($49,810). Source: BLS OEWS state data, May 2025.

How pay varies by setting and specialty

Within the BLS occupation, common employment settings include hospital operating rooms, outpatient surgery centers, physician offices, and dental and oral surgery practices. Specialties that may correspond to higher pay include:

Cardiovascular and open heart surgery.
Neurosurgery.
Orthopedic surgery, especially total joints and trauma.
Robotic surgery (Da Vinci and similar platforms).
Travel surgical tech assignments.

Shift differentials for nights, weekends, holidays, and on call coverage are common in hospital settings and lift effective hourly pay above the listed base.

Compared to similar roles

How surgical tech pay compares to nearby BLS occupations (May 2025 medians):

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (29-2032): $96,590
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (29-2035): $95,480
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (29-2034): $80,110
Surgical Assistants (29-9093): $66,800
Surgical Technologists (29-2055): $64,650

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

How to increase your earnings

Earn the CST credential from NBSTSA. It is the most widely recognized credential and is often a hiring requirement.
Specialize in cardiovascular, neuro, ortho, or robotic surgery. These services frequently pay above the median.
Step into first assistant pathways. Some surgical techs progress to Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) roles, which BLS often groups with Surgical Assistants and which can pay more.
Consider higher paying states or metros. Hawaii, Oregon, California, Massachusetts, and Alaska consistently lead BLS state tables.
Take on lead tech, preceptor, or sterile processing supervisor roles. These positions can move pay above the 75th percentile.

Job outlook: BLS projects 4.5% employment growth from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,000 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections).

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. bls.gov/oes/current/oes292055.htm
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034. bls.gov/emp
National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), CST credential. nbstsa.org

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/.

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)