May 2025 BLS data | updated October 2026
Surgical tech pay: compare the right numbers
The U.S. median annual wage for surgical technologists was $64,650 in May 2025. That is a national midpoint for employed workers, not an offer for your city, specialty, shift, or contract. Use the statewide table below to narrow the geography, then compare actual postings and total compensation.
What the source includes
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median for SOC 29-2055, Surgical Technologists. This group includes scrub and OR technologist work across settings. It excludes surgical assistants, nurses, and sterile processing staff. The national median and the state rows use the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. An employment estimate counts people employed, not jobs currently open. Read the BLS occupation profile and OEWS tables.
Statewide median hourly pay
These are statewide estimates, so a specific metro or rural employer may differ. Open a state source for its wage percentiles and method notes.
| State | Median hourly | Estimated workers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $23.76/hr | 2,480 | BLS state data |
| Alaska | $38.65/hr | 310 | BLS state data |
| Arizona | $34.74/hr | 2,410 | BLS state data |
| Arkansas | $27.60/hr | 1,640 | BLS state data |
| California | $39.09/hr | 11,920 | BLS state data |
| Colorado | $36.41/hr | 2,100 | BLS state data |
| Connecticut | $38.41/hr | 1,220 | BLS state data |
| Delaware | $29.93/hr | 340 | BLS state data |
| District of Columbia | $37.27/hr | 340 | BLS state data |
| Florida | $30.02/hr | 9,120 | BLS state data |
| Georgia | $30.77/hr | 4,380 | BLS state data |
| Hawaii | $39.73/hr | 290 | BLS state data |
| Idaho | $34.88/hr | 1,100 | BLS state data |
| Illinois | $31.08/hr | 3,570 | BLS state data |
| Indiana | $30.89/hr | 2,680 | BLS state data |
| Iowa | $29.11/hr | 950 | BLS state data |
| Kansas | $29.13/hr | 1,200 | BLS state data |
| Kentucky | $29.08/hr | 1,440 | BLS state data |
| Louisiana | $27.58/hr | 2,230 | BLS state data |
| Maine | $30.22/hr | 470 | BLS state data |
| Maryland | $33.16/hr | 1,880 | BLS state data |
| Massachusetts | $38.88/hr | 2,220 | BLS state data |
| Michigan | $30.44/hr | 3,840 | BLS state data |
| Minnesota | $38.56/hr | 1,770 | BLS state data |
| Mississippi | $23.95/hr | 1,110 | BLS state data |
| Missouri | $29.39/hr | 2,100 | BLS state data |
| Montana | $29.31/hr | 490 | BLS state data |
| Nebraska | $30.71/hr | 770 | BLS state data |
| Nevada | $36.29/hr | 1,110 | BLS state data |
| New Hampshire | $36.08/hr | 370 | BLS state data |
| New Jersey | $37.12/hr | 2,780 | BLS state data |
| New Mexico | $24.90/hr | 540 | BLS state data |
| New York | $38.25/hr | 6,540 | BLS state data |
| North Carolina | $29.29/hr | 4,400 | BLS state data |
| North Dakota | $29.63/hr | 370 | BLS state data |
| Ohio | $30.01/hr | 3,730 | BLS state data |
| Oklahoma | $29.42/hr | 1,940 | BLS state data |
| Oregon | $39.13/hr | 1,090 | BLS state data |
| Pennsylvania | $30.14/hr | 4,490 | BLS state data |
| Rhode Island | $35.64/hr | 240 | BLS state data |
| South Carolina | $29.89/hr | 2,680 | BLS state data |
| South Dakota | $28.79/hr | 600 | BLS state data |
| Tennessee | $29.10/hr | 3,310 | BLS state data |
| Texas | $31.35/hr | 10,160 | BLS state data |
| Utah | $30.15/hr | 1,170 | BLS state data |
| Vermont | $29.17/hr | 140 | BLS state data |
| Virginia | $32.49/hr | 1,910 | BLS state data |
| Washington | $37.15/hr | 2,510 | BLS state data |
| West Virginia | $23.61/hr | 580 | BLS state data |
| Wisconsin | $35.64/hr | 2,180 | BLS state data |
| Wyoming | $28.29/hr | 210 | BLS state data |
| Puerto Rico | $14.71/hr | 1,080 | BLS state data |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025, cross-industry and all ownerships, SOC 29-2055. State estimates are not current job listings.
Specialty and setting
Specialty
BLS does not publish separate surgical technologist wages for CVOR, neuro, ortho, robotics, or other scrub specialties. Compare the actual service lines, call rotation, training, and posted range. See the specialty comparison for a practical framework.
Work setting
Hospitals, outpatient centers, and physician offices can differ in schedule, case mix, and benefits. BLS industry medians describe workers in those industries, not matched roles at the same experience level. Compare an ASC offer with a hospital offer using pay, call, premiums, benefits, and time off together.
Experience and credentials
OEWS does not break this occupation into entry-level, senior, CST, or TS-C wage bands. Check the employer's pay scale and whether certification changes eligibility, the rate, or neither. Ask how prior cases and service-line experience are credited.
Travel and PRN
A travel package may combine taxable pay and expense reimbursements. PRN may trade guaranteed hours or benefits for flexibility. Do not compare the headline hourly amount with a staff base rate alone. Review the travel pay guide and actual contract terms.
Compare an offer step by step
- Confirm the work site and service line; statewide medians are broad.
- Write down base hourly pay, guaranteed hours, shift differentials, standby and callback rates, overtime rules, and any sign-on conditions.
- Value employer-paid benefits and paid time off separately. Ask when eligibility starts.
- Check the case mix, orientation, call burden, and advancement criteria. A higher base rate may come with more unscheduled work.
- Use a current posting and the salary estimator as comparison inputs, not as a guaranteed market price.