But you’ll be happy and excited when you discover the average annual wage for a surgical technologist according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is $38,740 as of May 2008 and there’s plenty of room to grow with years of experience and specialization.
The Average Salary…Not So Average After All!
When you look at the data provided you will discover that surgical technologist wages can vary depending on the type of organization where you are employed. You may have your heart set on working in a hospital, but even if you can’t find a local job in one, there are so many other great options.
Here’s a sample of those options. Following are a few of those options and the current average salaries for surgical technologist positions.
| Work in a hospital and the average pay is: |
$39,500 |
| Work in a physician’s office and the average pay is: |
$40,300 |
| Work for the federal government and the average pay is: |
$44,400 |
| Work for a state government and the average pay is: |
$39,600 |
| Work for a dentist’s office and the average pay is: |
$37,300 |
| Work for yourself (self-employed) and the average pay is: |
$40,700 |
Pay rates for surgical technicians have been steadily rising and are expected to continue rising. In may 2006 the average annual earnings for surgical technologists were $36,080 compared to $38,740 in 2008.
The really good news is that the demand for surgical technologists is expected to rise and that will most likely force salaries higher. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor says:
“Employment of Surgical Technologists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. Job opportunities will be best for technologists who are certified.”
In The Beginning…Starting Your New Career
Of course, before you can reach for the top of the salary ladder you have to start somewhere. The starting salary for a surgical tech obviously doesn’t rely on years of experience if you are just starting your new career. According to Payscale.com the median salary for people who have been working less than 1 year is $32,700.
That is excellent beginning pay and you will quickly have many opportunities to raise your pay too. For example, the median salary for people on the job between 1 to 4 years is $34,200. The numbers show that surgical techs are given raises as their experience grows.
What Determines the Salary...Moving Up the Ladder!
You will start your career as a surgical technologist but you can choose a career path that includes a series of promotions.
- Advance from Surgical Technologist to Surgical First Assistant
- Advance from general Surgical Technician to Surgical First Assistant
- Specialize in a particular type of surgical field such as open heart surgery
- Assume administrative responsibilities in a non-medical organization
A surgical technician salary is the highest for a medical position that does not require a 4-year degree. But not all technicians are paid a salary. Some are paid by the hour. The hourly median wages for surgical tech positions is a rate of $18.62. The hourly rate ranges from $13.23 to $26.11 which equates to an annual wage of $27,510 to $54,300.
Inquiring Minds Want to Know…What Affects Your Salary Most?
Yes…it’s true…there are factors that can affect the salary for surgical tech positions. What are they?
Type of Employment Facility
Where you work has a direct impact on the expected average or median salary. The pay scale for surgical technician positions tends to be higher for positions in medical facilities (median $39,500) as opposed to positions with colleges and universities ($34,100).
The lowest median rate is for those surgical technologists working for franchise medical centers ($29,500). The next lowest is for those who are self employed ($31,400). But most people understand that there are some advantages to being self-employed, like more flexible work hours that offset the lower salary or hourly rates.
Credentials
Credentials have a big impact on a surgical tech salary. The surgical technologists who specialize generally earn higher salaries than those who do not. There are many different kinds of certifications such as the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and the Tech in Surgery-Certified (TS-C) designation.
The Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) website clearly points out the monetary advantages surgical technicians gain through certification. The NBSTA did a survey and the AST reported the following about pay rates for surgical technicians.
- CST certified techs earn from 50 cents to $5 more per hour over non-certified techs
- The most typical increased rate ranged between $1 and $1.99 per hour
- 16.9 percent of those certified earned the extra $5 per hour which equates to $10,000 per year
NBSTA is the acronym for National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
As the AST so aptly describes the benefits of certification, “Certification is a means for upward mobility, a condition for employment, a route to higher pay and a source of recognition nationwide.” Many employers you seek employment with will pay for maintaining your annual certification.
Years of Experience
Employers value experience in surgical technicians. The salary of surgical assistants will increase with experience. Payscale.com reports the following information.
| Less than one year |
$32,700 |
| 1 to 4 years |
$34,200 |
| 5 to 9 years |
$38,900 |
| 10 to 19 years |
$44,100 |
| 20 years and up |
$53,500 |
You can make even more by combining your experience with your certifications to achieve top dollar rates.
Location
The surgical assistant salary that is paid by employers varies by city. In general, wages in a large metropolitan area will be higher than wages in smaller cities or rural areas. But the salary and hourly rates for techs will also vary between different cities.
For example, surgical technologists will earn between $14.59 to $20.45 per hour in Atlanta and $17.03 to $23.26 per hour in Seattle.
The U.S Department of Labor reports that Florence, SC pays techs $16.75 an hour and Chattanooga, TN pays $18.00 an hour.
The state where you work as a surgical technician also makes a difference. California tech salaries are $47,280 whereas Minnesota’s reported salaries are $45,730.
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