How long does surgical technician training take in South Carolina?

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

Do surgical technicians need a license in South Carolina?

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

How to Become a Surgical Technician in South Carolina (2026)

Q: How much do surgical technicians earn in South Carolina?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), surgical technicians in South Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,160. Employment concentration in South Carolina is about 1.54 times the national average for this occupation.

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

South Carolina currently employs approximately 2,680 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

South Carolina surgical technologists earn a median annual wage of $62,160 ($29.89/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,680 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -3.9% below the national median of $64,650 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,160 ($29.89/hr)
25th percentile: $52,140 per year
75th percentile: $67,080 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $75,210 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,830 per year
Workers employed in South Carolina: 2,680
Versus national median: -3.9% below the U.S. median of $64,650
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.54 - this occupation is more concentrated in South Carolina than the national average

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

South Carolina employs about 2,680 surgical technicians earning a median $62,160 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Surgical Technician here means completing a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program plus CST.

Key Facts

Median wage (South Carolina): $62,160/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in South Carolina: 2,680 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.54x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 4.5% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Surgical Technician Schools in South Carolina

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. 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	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Aiken Technical College	48.4	Contact school for pricing	$54,588	26%	Yes*	64 mi
2	Southeastern College-Charleston	47.1	Contact school for pricing	$33,941	68%	Yes*	71 mi
3	Southeastern College-Charlotte	46.8	Contact school for pricing	$35,871	69%	Yes*	98 mi
4	Piedmont Technical College	45.7	Contact school for pricing	$44,555	33%	Yes*	85 mi
5	Augusta Technical College	45.4	Contact school for pricing	$43,469	31%	Yes*	78 mi
6	South Piedmont Community College	45.0	Contact school for pricing	$46,657	37%	Yes*	93 mi
7	Central Carolina Technical College	43.9	Contact school for pricing	$45,876	Not reported	Yes*	26 mi
8	Midlands Technical College	41.9	Contact school for pricing	$46,832	17%	Yes*	26 mi
9	York Technical College	40.4	Contact school for pricing	$47,738	Not reported	—	84 mi
10	Florence-Darlington Technical College	35.7	Contact school for pricing	$44,978	27%	—	64 mi

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.

South Carolina employs approximately 2,680 surgical technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,160 ¹. The state’s concentration of surgical technician jobs is 1.54x 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 South Carolina, 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 (South Carolina): $62,160 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Surgical Technician in South Carolina

How to become a Surgical Technician in South Carolina? 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 South Carolina? 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 South Carolina? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in South Carolina is $62,160 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,830 and experienced professionals can earn $75,210 or more ¹.

How to Become a Surgical Technician in South Carolina

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 South Carolina. 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 South Carolina

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 South Carolina

Surgical Technologists Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	1,170	$63,490	$65,680	$49,600	$81,030
Greenville-Anderson-Greer	510	$63,050	$62,030	$52,410	$73,120
Columbia	440	$61,230	$61,500	$50,030	$74,290
Charleston-North Charleston	380	$59,920	$61,700	$47,390	$69,110
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach	310	$48,790	$52,220	$35,220	$75,210
Spartanburg	270	$63,570	$64,470	$58,130	$78,220
Florence	260	$67,080	$59,990	$32,300	$67,080
Augusta-Richmond County	250	$60,300	$61,600	$45,800	$80,220
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal	40	$62,810	$61,210	$42,820	$80,060
Sumter	40	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

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 South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 2,680 surgical technicians ¹. Nationally, surgical technician employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do surgical technicians earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in South Carolina is $62,160, which is $670 below the national median of $62,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Carolina

Best Trade Schools in South Carolina (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in South Carolina

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)