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

"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 Tennessee?"

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

"What apprenticeships are available for surgical technicians in Tennessee?"

"In Tennessee, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Tennessee Department of Labor And Workforce Development - 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 Tennessee

Q: "How much do surgical technicians earn in Tennessee?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), surgical technicians in Tennessee earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,530. Employment concentration in Tennessee is about 1.34 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for surgical technicians in Tennessee?"

"Tennessee currently employs approximately 3,310 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

Tennessee surgical technologists earn a median annual wage of $60,530 ($29.10/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,310 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -6.4% below the national median of $64,650 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,530 ($29.10/hr)
25th percentile: $51,310 per year
75th percentile: $64,430 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $75,920 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,620 per year
Workers employed in Tennessee: 3,310
Versus national median: -6.4% below the U.S. median of $64,650
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.34 - this occupation is more concentrated in Tennessee than the national average

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

Tennessee employs approximately 3,310 surgical technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,530 ¹. The state’s concentration of surgical technician jobs is 1.34x 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 Tennessee, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Surgical Technician in Tennessee

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

What do surgical technicians earn in Tennessee? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Tennessee is $60,530 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,620 and experienced professionals can earn $75,920 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 (Tennessee): $60,530 per year ¹

Surgical Technician Certification Options in Tennessee

Tennessee 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 Tennessee for details on certification preparation courses.

Surgical Technician Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

Surgical Technologists Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	1,120	$63,120	$64,430	$49,170	$82,080
Memphis	630	$61,150	$60,050	$49,390	$77,630
Knoxville	520	$54,900	$56,590	$47,620	$63,430
Chattanooga	380	$60,900	$59,470	$47,600	$77,610
Johnson City	120	$59,180	$56,360	$46,870	$73,380
Kingsport-Bristol	110	$60,500	$60,060	$40,350	$77,200
Clarksville	70	$52,510	$52,800	$40,180	$61,930
Jackson	70	$59,090	$59,270	$47,610	$79,570

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 Tennessee

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin	1,120	$63,120
Memphis	630	$61,150
Knoxville	520	$54,900
Chattanooga	380	$60,900
Johnson City	120	$59,180

Explore More Trades in Tennessee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for surgical technicians in Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 3,310 surgical technicians ¹. Nationally, surgical technician employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do surgical technicians earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for surgical technicians in Tennessee is $60,530, which is $2,300 below 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)