Highest-Paid Surgical Technology Specialties in 2024

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Allied health professions are among the fastest-growing healthcare careers in 2024. Professionals working within surgical technology stand out in these careers, contributing their expertise to assist before, during and after surgical operations by preparing rooms and patients for surgery. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the demand for surgical assistants and technologists to grow by 5% between 2022 and 2032, meaning jobs in this field should be plentiful. 

If you’ve been thinking of getting into healthcare, exploring the opportunities of surgical technology might be your ticket. Let’s look deeper into the varying roles within this allied health field based on the amount of schooling required and the benefits of specializing, including the boosted salaries that often come with these roles.

How Much Does a Surgical Technologist Make?

The salary of allied health professionals in surgical technology varies greatly depending on geographical location and type of employment, such as travel, per diem or staff. The amount of education and experience also significantly affects how much healthcare professionals in surgical technology earn. For example, Vivian Health data indicated the average staff salary for a Certified Surgical Technologist was $35.74 on February 20, 2024, while the average surgical technician wage on that date was $32.59 hourly.

Pursuing a surgical technology specialty is a great way to increase salary potential, expand your knowledge base and position yourself as a key member of a healthcare team. Many careers within surgical technology, including becoming a surgical technologist, require a relatively short educational commitment compared to other healthcare professions. It’s an ideal choice if you’re looking to quickly enter a healthcare profession and earn a decent living that surpasses the federal minimum wage.

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Earning Potential by Surgical Technology Role

Let’s analyze the salary data for surgical technologists, ranging from roles that require less education and responsibility to those providing higher earnings in specialized roles. We collected our data from the Vivian Health website at the beginning of February 2024, with the numbers below depicting the salaries and job availability at that time. To calculate weekly staff wages, we multiplied the hourly rate by a 40-hour work week.  

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Surgical Technician

Surgical Technicians work closely with the surgical team to set up and maintain the operating room, handle instruments and ensure everything runs smoothly. Their precision and composure under pressure are vital for patient safety and successful surgeries.

Becoming a surgical technician requires the least amount of education, requiring the completion of a short program focused on the basic skills necessary to assist with surgery. Technical schools, community colleges and hospitals offer programs with a curriculum that combines classroom instruction and hands-on clinical experience. 

Vivian Health had 33 open staff surgical technician jobs posted, with an average staff surgical technician salary of $33 per hour.

During this period, Vivian had 404 travel surgical technician contracts available. The average travel surgical technician salary was $1,966 per week, with Arizona reaching a maximum weekly wage of $3,062 and Hawaii paying up to $2,852 a week. With many northern states experiencing chilly winter conditions, picking up a travel contract in these warmer locales touting higher wages could present an enticing option.

The following table provides an overview of the highest-paying states’ maximum weekly travel and staff salaries for surgical technicians.

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Surgical Technologist

Surgical Technologists prep operating rooms, organize instruments for sterility and aid surgeons by passing instruments, managing supplies and assisting with patient care post-surgery.

The educational requirements for surgical technologists differ by state, so it’s crucial to verify specific state regulations for accuracy. While the exact steps can vary, generally, after acquiring your GED, you must earn a postsecondary certificate or associate’s degree from a program accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

According to Vivian Health’s salary data, the average staff salary for surgical technologists was $33.16 hourly. Based on a 40-hour work week, this would be $1,326 per week or an average annual wage of $68,973. Within Vivan’s jobs marketplace, 109 open staff surgical tech positions were available in early February 2024.

Salary information for travel surgical technologists indicated an average weekly income of $1,997. Completing three 13-week travel assignments at this rate would earn an annual salary of $77,883. There were 2,172 positions for travel surgical technologists up for grabs at the start of the year.

The following table overviews the maximum weekly travel and staff salaries in some of the highest-paying states. 

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Certified Surgical Technologist

Certified surgical technologists (CSTs) handle tasks like ensuring equipment is sterile, passing tools to the surgeon and the team, pulling back tissue to help the surgeon see better, putting on dressings and keeping everything sterile. CSTs have similar job descriptions as a surgical technologist, but they’ve taken their qualifications to the next level by getting certified. Some states require surgical technologist certification before working there.

Upon graduating from an accredited program and receiving a postsecondary certificate or associate’s degree, individuals aspiring to become certified professionals seek the Certified Surgical Technologist credential offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

At the beginning of 2024, surgical technologists had no consistent federal education, training or licensing mandates. The Association of Surgical Technologists consistently advocates for legislation making certification mandatory, ensuring professional accountability through ongoing education requirements and a minimum knowledge base.

Even if it’s not required, a significant bonus of earning certification is it usually equates to higher pay. CSTs had an average weekly staff income of $37.29 per hour, equaling an average annual wage of roughly $77,563. There were 121 job openings for certified surgical technologists on Vivian Health.

The website also had 1,180 travel contracts for CSTs. The average travel salary was $1,957, resulting in an annual salary of approximately $76,323 if working three 13-week contracts within the year. 

The table below shows the maximum weekly rates for CSTs in travel and staff positions across states with some of the highest-paying weekly staff salaries.

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CVOR Surgical Technologist

Cardiovascular operating room (CVOR) surgical techs are indispensable in the operating room. They take charge of the setup for cardiovascular procedures, ensuring everything is in place, maintaining a sterile field and managing instruments and supplies. This surgical tech specialty demands at least three years of experience as a surgical technologist before specializing. 

Usually, specializing equates to a higher salary as an incentive. However, according to Vivian Health’s salary data, the average staff wage for CVOR surgical technologists was $28.66/hr, less than the average pay for a surgical technologist during the same period. This discrepancy might be attributed to lower demand for this specialization, with only five job postings for staff CVOR positions. However, some states had higher than average pay, such as Virginia at $54 per hour and Florida at $33 hourly. 

Job prospects look promising when exploring travel contracts for CVOR surgical technologists. With a whopping 1,365 travel positions on Vivian in early February 2024, the average weekly travel salary was $2,309. In Georgia, some contracts reached an impressive $3,500 weekly.

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Surgical First Assistant

A surgical first assistant (SFA) collaborates with surgeons during surgical procedures, contributing significantly to the safety and success of operations. They play a crucial role in supporting patients throughout the surgical process, from pre-operative preparations to post-operative care. SFAs undertake various tasks, such as preparing and draping patients, managing surgical instruments, suturing incisions, controlling bleeding and delivering wound care. 

The first step to becoming an SFA is gaining surgical assisting experience as a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, CST or physician assistant. After graduating from an approved surgical first assistant program, certification through NBSTSA offers the Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) credential, which is usually necessary before beginning your career. 

Vivian’s jobs marketplace had 43 travel SFA contracts and five staff SFA jobs in early February 2024. According to our SFA salary data, the average weekly travel salary was $2,447 and the average weekly staff salary was $1,496. Travel salaries within Virginia reached $3,360, with a portion earmarked as tax-free housing and meal stipends. Virginia’s staff wages were also among the highest in the nation, with a weekly rate of $1,920.

Although the weekly salary of travel contracts may seem significantly higher than staff positions, the annual salary data suggests a more balanced perspective. Each option, whether staff or travel contracts, has advantages and disadvantages. For instance, travel contracts offer the excitement of new environments, exposure to diverse cases and potentially higher pay. Conversely, staff positions provide stability, familiarity with a specific workplace and a more consistent routine. Ultimately, the choice depends on individual preferences and career goals.

Explore the employment possibilities on Vivian Health’s jobs marketplace and start your career in the surgical technology field today.

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Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published in March 2023 and has been updated annually to reflect the most recent data. The Surgical Technology specialties currently listed were the highest-paying among the positions posted on Vivian Health as of this publication.