Scrub tech, surgical technologist, and OR tech openings across the New Orleans metro, from Level I trauma rooms uptown to outpatient ORs in Metairie and the North Shore. Listings below are pulled from local hospitals and surgery centers currently hiring.
Curated by Matthew Sorensen, 15+ years in executive recruiting and 500+ skilled trades and healthcare placements, including OR and perioperative roles. Author of four books on hiring and interviewing.
Who Hires Surgical Techs in New Orleans
The metro's OR volume concentrates in a handful of large systems, which means most of your applications land in a small number of applicant tracking systems. Apply to the system, not just the posting; a rejection at one campus often reroutes you to another.
Ochsner Medical CenterSystemThe largest employer of OR staff in the region, with surgical services spread across multiple campuses. Openings post system-wide, so watch for Ochsner Baptist and suburban campuses under the same careers portal.
University Medical Center New OrleansAcademicAcademic medical center with a broad case mix and residents in the room. Teaching hospitals are generally the most set up to onboard techs straight out of clinicals.
Tulane Medical CenterAcademicDowntown academic OR with specialty service lines. Techs who want subspecialty exposure early tend to start here or at UMC.
East Jefferson General HospitalCommunityMetairie-based community hospital staffing ORs across general, ortho, and GI service lines.
Outpatient surgery centersASCIndependent and physician-owned ASCs across the metro. Predictable hours and no call, usually at the cost of case variety. See ASC vs. hospital OR jobs.
What the Job Pays Here
New Orleans pay sits below the national median for surgical technologists, which is where most Gulf South metros land. Setting matters more than city: trauma-capable hospitals with call pay out ahead of outpatient centers, and CVOR, neuro, and robotics techs command a premium over general OR staffing.
Certification is the cleanest lever a candidate controls. Run your own numbers with the surgical tech salary estimator, or read the full salary guide for how experience, shift, and specialty stack.
Certification in Louisiana
Louisiana does not mandate statewide licensure or certification for surgical technologists. That is a floor, not a strategy: most New Orleans hospitals filter for the CST credential before a resume reaches a hiring manager. See the CST certification guide and confirm current rules on the state requirements page.
FAQ
Do I need a CST to work in New Orleans?
Not by state law. In practice most hospital postings list it as required or strongly preferred, and uncertified applicants are usually screened out before a human reads the resume. Surgery centers are more flexible.
Can a new grad get hired in this market?
Yes, and academic medical centers are the best entry point because they have residents, structured orientation, and turnover. Apply where you did clinicals first; that relationship is worth more than any cover letter.
How long is a surgical tech program?
Accredited programs generally run 12 to 24 months and combine classroom work with clinical OR rotations. Attend an accredited program if you intend to sit for the CST exam.
Hospital or surgery center for a first job?
Hospital. Case variety and trauma exposure in the first two years determine which specialties open to you later. ASC hours are better, but the skill ceiling is lower.