Surgical technologists (surgical techs) in the U.S. currently earn around the low‑to‑mid $60,000s per year on average, with typical hourly pay a bit over $30.

Quick Scoop: How much does a surgical tech make?

  • National median (recent data) : About $62,800–$65,800 per year, roughly $30–$32 per hour.
  • Typical range overall : Around $43,000 at the low end (10th percentile) up to about $90,000+ at the very high end (90th percentile), depending on location, experience, and specialty.
  • Weekly snapshot example : Some job-market estimates show surgical tech postings averaging around $1,800 per week, though higher-level certified roles can be substantially more.

Mini breakdown by experience

  • Entry‑level or first‑year techs often see salaries in the low $40,000s annually.
  • With 5–10 years of experience, averages around the high $50,000s are common.
  • With 10–20 years in the field, pay can rise into the high $60,000s or more.
  • The top 10% of earners can clear $73,000–$90,000+ per year.

Where you work matters

  • High‑pay states: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Washington, and Nevada often report averages from roughly $59,000 to mid‑$60,000s, with some areas going higher.
  • Big‑pay cities: Places like San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Boston, and San Diego can reach or exceed the mid‑$60,000s to upper‑$70,000s per year.
  • Lower‑cost regions: Many southern and midwestern states sit closer to the low‑to‑mid $40,000s to low $50,000s as typical annual pay.

Sample salary snapshots by state (HTML table)

State Hourly (median) Annual (median)
California $30.90 $64,260
Hawaii $30.10 $62,550
Massachusetts $29.49 $61,340
Texas $24.45 $50,850
Florida $22.41 $46,610
Tennessee $21.61 $44,940
[3]

What affects how much you make?

  • Geography : High cost‑of‑living coastal and metro areas pay more; rural and lower‑cost states pay less.
  • Certification : Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and other credentials can push you toward the higher end of the range.
  • Experience & specialization: Cardio, neuro, or other specialized OR work, plus years in the field, usually bring higher pay.
  • Setting & hours: Large hospitals and medical centers typically pay more than smaller clinics, and overtime/odd shifts can significantly boost take‑home pay.

A quick “day-in-the-life” pay picture

Imagine a mid‑career surgical tech in a busy metro hospital:

  • Works 40 hours a week at around $31 per hour.
  • Base annual income: roughly $64,000.
  • Picks up an extra on‑call weekend a month plus some overtime, adding several thousand dollars a year on top of base pay.

Overall, if you’re asking “how much does a surgical tech make” today, the realistic expectation in many parts of the U.S. is somewhere between the high $40,000s and mid‑$60,000s, with clear paths above that in high‑pay states, big cities, or specialized roles.

TL;DR: Most surgical techs make around $60k–$65k a year nationally, with a wide range from low $40k to $90k+ depending on location, experience, and specialization.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.