Surgical Technologists

Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $64,650/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$45,940$96,940

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +4.5% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.

About 7,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

MonitoringActive ListeningOperations MonitoringCritical ThinkingSpeakingCoordinationTime ManagementReading ComprehensionSocial PerceptivenessLearning Strategies

Top knowledge areas

Customer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingPublic Safety and SecurityPsychologyBiologyMathematics

Core tasks

• Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.

• Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.

• Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.

• Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.

• Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.

• Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.

• Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.

• Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Surgical Technologists?

The median pay for Surgical Technologists is $64,650 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Surgical Technologists?

Employment for Surgical Technologists is projected to change +4.5% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Surgical Technologists?

Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

How many job openings are there each year for Surgical Technologists?

About 7,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.