Assist surgeons during operations by handing instruments and maintaining sterile field.
Pay
$45,940
Lower reported wage
$64,650
Median
$96,940
Upper reported wage
Annual U.S. salaries. Actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience. The lower and upper figures do not represent starting and senior salaries.
AI-generated image · Illustrative scene
Make this your goal
Build a personalized Roadmap Plan with CLEP savings and school matches.
Certification may help or be required by an employer, and some states regulate the role. Basic life support may also be required; check both state and job rules.[1]
Search CareerOneStop by occupation and state, then confirm the rules with the issuing agency. Coverage is incomplete; an empty result does not mean no license is required.
U.S. career guide. Program, employer, and state requirements can differ.
About this data
Surgical Technologists (29-2055): BLS OEWS May 2025 annual United States median (50th percentile) $64,650. The lower and upper figures are the published 10th and 90th percentiles. They describe the wage distribution, not starting or senior pay. Wage figures reviewed October 27, 2026. Source: https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/?areas=INDUSTRY,STATE,MSA&major_group=290000&measure=01&occupation=292055 . Employment and growth retain their existing source periods and were not refreshed in this wage review.
SOC 29-2055BLS EP 2025-35Verified 2026-04-28View on BLS
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Can I earn while training?
Programs include supervised clinical experience. Ask whether placements are paid and what schedule and travel they require.[1]
Costs to check before enrolling
Compare tuition after aid, scrubs and supplies, clinical travel, certification exams, and possible unpaid placement hours.
Planning questions: request a written estimate from each program or sponsor. A total cost has not been verified here.
Majors and routes to explore
A related major can be preparation; it does not by itself qualify you for the career.
A direct preparation route; confirm accreditation, clinical hours, and the credentials sought by local employers.[1]
Daily life
What you would do
Prepare the operating room and sterile instruments, help position patients, pass supplies to the surgical team, and maintain infection-control procedures.[1]
Where you could work
Most surgical technologists work in hospitals; others work in outpatient surgery centers or physicians’ offices.[1]
Hours and flexibility
Most work full time. Hospital roles may involve nights, weekends, holidays, on-call periods, or shifts longer than 8 hours.[1]
Physical and emotional demands
Operating rooms require prolonged standing, fast responses, lifting supplies or patients, and careful infection prevention under pressure.[1]
How you could advance
A technologist may train further for surgical assisting, teaching, or another healthcare occupation; these are separate qualifications, not automatic promotions.[1]
These are possible directions. Promotion timing and pay depend on the role and employer.
Questions to ask yourself and an employer
Can I stay focused while maintaining a sterile field during a stressful procedure?
Does a hospital or outpatient surgery schedule fit my life?
