Nashville is one of the country's biggest healthcare hubs, which keeps surgical tech demand steady across its hospital systems and surgery centers. Current openings from Nashville-area employers appear in the listings below, refreshed as roles go live.
Nashville's OR jobs cluster inside a few big systems, and Nashville is also HCA's home turf, so the for-profit hospital footprint here is unusually deep. In my experience placing OR techs, the academic and large system ORs are the most set up to onboard new grads out of clinicals, while the HCA facilities hire high volume and move quickly once you clear screening; surgery centers trade some pay for predictable daytime hours.
The region's major academic medical center, staffing high-acuity and specialty ORs across the metro.
Large for-profit footprint including TriStar Centennial and TriStar Skyline Medical Center, hiring across a broad range of surgical services.
Hospitals including Saint Thomas Midtown and Saint Thomas West staff general and specialty procedures across the metro.
Beyond the systems, ambulatory surgery centers across the Nashville region regularly post scrub tech and CST roles, often with more predictable hours than hospital call.
Statewide Tennessee figure from BLS. This sits below the national median of about $60,300, which tracks Tennessee's lower cost of living rather than a weak market.
The average runs above the median, pulled up by senior techs and higher-acuity specialty roles.
10th to 90th percentile. Certification, specialty (CVOR, neuro, and robotics pay toward the top), and hospital-vs-ASC setting drive where you land. For a Nashville-specific estimate, use the salary estimator or the salary guide.
Tennessee does not mandate state licensure for surgical techs, but hospitals and surgery centers here generally prefer an accredited-program graduate, and many require the CST credential for hospital OR roles. Full details are in the state requirements guide.
Tennessee doesn't require it by law, but many Nashville hospitals prefer or require the CST for OR roles. If you're a new grad, certifying before you apply is the cleanest way to avoid being screened out.
It depends on the role. Hospitals often pay more once call and shift differentials are added and give you higher-acuity experience; ASCs trade some of that for predictable daytime hours. Compare the trade-offs in the ASC vs hospital guide.
Yes. The academic and large system ORs are generally the most set up to bring on techs straight out of clinicals. The new-grad hiring guide covers how to position yourself.