Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Postsecondary nondegree award
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Surgical technologists support surgical teams and work in settings where precision, coordination, and reliability matter every day. This career combines hands-on technical work with interaction alongside other healthcare professionals. Nationally, there are about 116,000 surgical technologists, indicating a well-established occupation. Projected employment growth of 4.5% and about 7,000 annual openings suggest a consistent flow of opportunities for new and experienced workers. The typical entry point is a postsecondary nondegree award, which can make the field accessible to people who want a healthcare role without pursuing a long degree path. Strong skills in detail orientation, adaptability, interpersonal communication, fine motor abilities, and physical stamina are especially important. For those who enjoy problem solving and are comfortable in structured, procedure-driven environments, surgical technology can offer a long-term career path with opportunities in many parts of the country, from large metro areas to states with notable CareerGPS opportunity scores.
Surgical technologists earn a national median annual salary of $62,830, providing a solid earning base for an occupation that typically requires a postsecondary nondegree award. Pay levels vary significantly by location. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, median salaries range from $75,740 in Colorado to $81,310 in California. Massachusetts and New York also show relatively high median salaries at $80,870 and $79,550, respectively, with Washington at $77,270. Metro areas can offer even higher pay. In the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro, the median salary is $106,840, while the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA metro reports $99,390. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro has a median salary of $84,120, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH reports $81,500. These differences highlight how geographic choice can influence earning potential for surgical technologists.
Surgical technologists have a national employment base of about 116,000 workers, indicating an established presence within the healthcare labor market. Projected employment growth of 4.5% points to steady expansion rather than a static field. Alongside this growth, there are approximately 7,000 annual openings, which combine new positions with turnover and replacement needs. This mix can create ongoing entry points for students completing training programs as well as for career changers who develop the required skills. Because the same 4.5% projected growth rate appears across top states and metro areas in the CareerGPS data, people interested in this field can consider a range of locations while expecting similar growth projections. Overall, the combination of a substantial employment base, measurable projected growth, and thousands of annual openings suggests a consistent demand environment for qualified surgical technologists.
Location choices can significantly shape the experience of surgical technologists. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $81,310 and employment of 11,920, alongside a CareerGPS opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also show strong opportunity scores, 65.87 and 65.78 respectively, with median salaries around $80,870 and $79,550. Colorado and Washington offer somewhat lower opportunity scores (56.97 and 56.29) and median salaries between $75,740 and $77,270, but still represent notable markets. At the metro level, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area reports the highest median salary at $106,840 and an opportunity score of 77.42. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro closely follows with an opportunity score of 77.27 and median salary of $84,120. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also offer strong combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores, giving surgical technologists multiple high-potential regions to consider.
The typical education for surgical technologists is a postsecondary nondegree award, which means formal training beyond high school without requiring a full degree. This pathway can appeal to individuals seeking to enter a healthcare-related role on a shorter timeline. Success in this career relies on a distinct skill profile. Detail orientation is critical, as is adaptability in dynamic clinical environments. Interpersonal skills support effective collaboration with other professionals, while leadership and project management abilities help coordinate tasks and follow procedures. Fine motor skills and mechanical aptitude are important for handling instruments and equipment, and physical strength and stamina support the physical demands of the role. Science knowledge underpins understanding of clinical concepts, and problem solving and decision making help address issues as they arise. Together, these skills complement the postsecondary training, shaping a professional who can function reliably and effectively as part of a surgical team.
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