Surgical Tech Jobs in Virginia

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What Virginia Pays

Mean annual: $66,380Meaningfully above the national mean for the role. Virginia is one of the better-paying states in the Southeast for surgical techs.

About 2,220 employed statewideA mid-sized market. Fewer openings than Texas or Florida, but less competition per posting, and the systems below hire repeatedly.

The statewide number hides a splitNorthern Virginia positions near the DC metro run well above the mean; Richmond and Hampton Roads sit closer to or below it. Where you take the job moves your pay more than what you do in the OR.

Before you compare offers across those markets, adjust for setting and shift. Run the numbers through the surgical tech salary estimator, and check what your specialty pays nationally so you know whether a Northern Virginia premium is real or just cost-of-living catching up.

Where Surgical Techs Work In Virginia

Inova Health SystemNorthern Virginia

Dominates the Northern Virginia market with a network across Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun counties. This is where the DC-metro pay premium lives.

VCU HealthRichmond

The state's academic medical center. Teaching hospitals are generally better set up to onboard new grads straight out of clinicals than a community facility hiring for one specific service line.

Sentara HealthHampton Roads

The dominant system across the Virginia Beach and Norfolk corridor. In a market with one clear anchor, internal transfers move you between facilities without restarting your seniority.

Bon Secours & HCA VirginiaRichmond / Mid-Atlantic

Competing networks across Richmond and the broader region. Two systems bidding for the same techs is the condition under which counteroffers actually get approved.

Carilion ClinicRoanoke

Anchors the Roanoke market and staffs ORs across southwest Virginia.

Certification And Training

Virginia is a Board of Medicine state, not an employer-preference state: certification is required to use the surgical technologist title. Most candidates qualify through an accredited program plus a recognized credential such as the CST, and military surgical training is among the approved pathways. Confirm current Board requirements against the state requirements page before you apply, because this is a real regulatory standard rather than a hiring preference.

Accredited programs run 12 to 24 months through community colleges statewide, with Northern Virginia Community College and John Tyler Community College near Richmond feeding regional clinical placements. Full pathway in the CST certification guide.

Virginia Surgical Tech FAQ

Do I need to be certified to work as a surgical tech in Virginia?

Yes. The Virginia Board of Medicine requires certification to use the surgical technologist title in the state. Most candidates qualify through an accredited program and a recognized credential such as the CST, and military surgical training is among the approved pathways.

Where do surgical techs earn the most in Virginia?

Northern Virginia, near the DC metro. Positions there typically run well above the state mean of $66,380, while Richmond and Hampton Roads fall closer to or below it.

I am certified in a voluntary state. Can I work in Virginia?

Not automatically. Virginia's requirement runs through the Board of Medicine, so a credential that satisfied an employer elsewhere may not satisfy the state. Verify your program's accreditation and your credential against current Board requirements before you apply.

How many surgical techs work in Virginia?

Roughly 2,220 statewide. It is a mid-sized market, which means fewer total openings than a state like Texas but less competition for each one.