- A surgical tech is a medical professional who works as part of a healthcare team assisting surgeons during procedures.
- They have several critical responsibilities before, during, and after every surgery.
- Completing an associate degree or a certification program is the minimum requirement to become a surgical tech.
- Surgical techs earned an average annual salary of $55,960 in 2022 (link to source in the income section below)
Surgical techs are medical professionals who work as part of a healthcare team assisting surgeons, physicians, and registered nurses during various procedures. Surgical techs or surgical technologists are also known as surgical assistants or operating room technicians.
A career as a surgical tech offers a relatively fast-track entry into the medical field. It’s one of the few medical careers that requires only an associate’s degree. This in no way means that this is an easy or less important role in healthcare. Surgical techs are assigned several critical responsibilities before, during, and after every surgery.
How Much Do Surgical Techs Earn?
The average annual salary for surgical technologists was $55,960.
Surgical tech salaries depend on several different factors including your degree or certification earned, years of experience, place of work, and location. Surgical assistants working in physicians’ offices earned the highest salaries with an average annual of $62,400 in May 2022. During the same year, those working in outpatient care centers earned an average of $59,740 and those working in hospitals earned an average of $58,460.
Job Outlook & Advancement Opportunities for Surgical Techs
The BLS states that surgical tech jobs are expected to grow faster than average compared to other occupations. The projected growth rate is 5% over a 10-year period from 2022 to 2032. An important trend to note is the increasing job opportunities in ambulatory surgery centers and other outpatient settings. This is due to the vast advances in medical technology which makes more types of surgeries possible in these settings. Another contributing factor is the recent changes in insurance policies.
After gaining hands-on experience as a surgical technologist, you enroll in continued education courses to advance to other roles in healthcare. For example, you can complete a program and answer a certification exam to qualify as a registered nurse or become a postsecondary teacher.
If this is a career that intrigues you, here’s what you need to know about how to become a surgical tech. But first, it helps to know exactly what a surgical technician does.
What Does A Surgical Tech Do?
A surgical technician receives extensive medical training in assisting with surgical procedures. They play a key role in all stages of performing a surgery, from preparing and sterilizing the operating room before the procedure to making incisions and closing the surgical site after the procedure. All of these are critical tasks that can affect the success of the procedure.
A look at a more detailed breakdown of what a surgical tech does before, during, and after any surgery can help give you more insight into this role.
Before a procedure, a surgical tech’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Making sure that the required equipment and surgical tools are sterilized properly to prevent infection
- Ensuring all machines and equipment, from the anesthesia machine, surgical lights and patient monitors to the defibrillators and EKG machine, are working properly
- Preparing the operating room and arranging the sterilized surgical tools for easy access
- Preparing the patient for the procedure, which includes positioning them on the operating table and disinfecting incision sites
- Helping the surgical team prepare for the procedure
During the procedure, a surgical tech’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Handing over the sterilized surgical instruments and other supplies as required to the surgeon and the surgeon’s assistant
- Monitoring the room for potential infection-causing risks
- Setting up robotic surgical equipment as and when needed
- Making incisions, holding clamps in place on instructions from the surgeon
- Holding the patient’s internal organs in place or retracting tissues
- Helping the surgeon with closing up the surgical sites
After the procedure, a surgical tech’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Cleaning and dressing the surgical sites
- Maintaining the sterile environment is maintained while the patient is still in the operating room
- Ensuring that all post-op care is being performed efficiently by other team members
- Taking inventory and maintaining a record of all the instruments and tools used during the procedure
- Making sure all used disposables such as needles, gauze, and cotton are disposed of correctly
- Preparing non-disposable used equipment and tools for sterilization in readiness for the next procedure
From the detailed breakdown of the responsibilities involved, it’s easy to see that surgical technologists play a vital, hands-on role during surgical procedures. It can be a physically demanding job that requires you to be on your feet for long periods during a surgery. Knowing that you played a crucial role in saving a patient’s life can be tremendously satisfying.
Does this sound like an interesting career path for you? Here’s what you need to know about how to become a surgical technologist.
How To Become A Surgical Tech
As mentioned above, the minimum educational requirement to become a surgical tech is an associate’s degree. Earning a certification can help boost your employment chances in most states. In some states, a certification is a mandatory requirement for working in this position. Even if a state doesn’t require it, many employers prefer to hire a certified surgical tech. We cover both below.
Many vocational schools, community colleges, and some universities offer surgical assistant or surgical technology programs. The type of institution you earn your associate’s degree from does not matter. However, you do need to make sure it is an accredited program. Most hospitals and other potential employers will not recognize a degree obtained from a program that is NOT accredited.
The surgical technology or surgical assisting program you’re enrolled in should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Surgical tech programs cover a wide range of medical topics related to all aspects of this role, from human anatomy, physiology, and microbiology to principles of sterilization techniques and preventing infections. These programs also cover details of the various surgical tools used in procedures and how to set up robotic or technical equipment.
In addition to lectures, you can expect to spend a lot of time observing surgical assistants at work as well as hands-on practice. You will also have to complete a practicum or a clinical internship to receive the necessary on-the-job training in a supervised clinical setting.
While working in general surgery is a more common route for most surgical technicians, you can choose to specialize if you are interested in a specific area. Some of the surgical areas you can choose to specialize in include but are not limited to Orthopedics, Cardiology, Organ Transplantation, Pediatric Surgery, Neurosurgery, or Plastic Surgery.
Surgical Tech Certifications
Several credentialing organizations offer exams and certifications for surgical technologists.
- The Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam administered by The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) is the national certifying examination for surgical technologists. Passing this test qualifies you to use the widely recognizable title of ‘Certified Surgical Technologist’.
- Other recognized organizations that offer surgical tech certification are:
To get certified by any of these organizations, you will need to pass an exam. Although the format may differ among organizations, all exams will test your knowledge and skills as a surgical assistant in various settings and geographical locations.
You are required to keep your surgical tech certification up to date to continue working in this role. This lets the authorities know that you are staying updated on the latest technological advancements as well as the latest legalities. One way to renew your certification is by completing continuing education that is offered through the Association of Surgical Technologists.
It’s advisable to contact your state licensing agency to find out about specific licensing requirements so you sign up for the correct certification exam.
Where Do Surgical Techs Work?
You know how to become a surgical tech and what you would do in this role but it also helps to know more about potential workplaces.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) an estimated 43% of surgical technologists work in operating rooms in hospitals. This includes state, local, and private general medical and surgical hospitals.
In addition to hospitals, certified surgical assistants may also work in physicians’ offices, dentists’ offices, and outpatient care centers, which also cover ambulatory surgical centers.
In all settings, the primary responsibility of surgical techs is to assist medical teams during surgical procedures and ensure patient safety before, during, and after surgeries.
How Much Do Surgical Techs Earn?
The average annual salary for surgical technologists was $55,960.
Surgical tech salaries depend on several different factors including your degree or certification earned, years of experience, place of work, and location. Surgical assistants working in physicians’ offices earned the highest salaries with an average annual of $62,400 in May 2022. During the same year, those working in outpatient care centers earned an average of $59,740 and those working in hospitals earned an average of $58,460.
Job Outlook & Advancement Opportunities for Surgical Techs
The BLS states that surgical tech jobs are expected to grow faster than average compared to other occupations. The projected growth rate is 5% over a 10-year period from 2022 to 2032. An important trend to note is the increasing job opportunities in ambulatory surgery centers and other outpatient settings. This is due to the vast advances in medical technology which makes more types of surgeries possible in these settings. Another contributing factor is the recent changes in insurance policies.
After gaining hands-on experience as surgical technologist, you enroll in continued education courses to advance to other roles in healthcare. For example, you can complete a program and answer a certification exam to qualify as a registered nurse, or become a postsecondary teacher.
Top 10 Colleges To Earn A Surgical Technologist Associates Degree
- University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Johnstown, PA
- Trine University, Angola, IN
- Concorde Career College-Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, TX
- Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting, Nashville, TN
- Mandl School – The College of Allied Health, New York, NY
- Pima Medical Institute – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
- Mount Aloysius College, Cresson, PA
- Southeastern College-West Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, FL
- American Career College – Ontario, Ontario, CA
- Concorde Career Institute – Tampa, Tampa, FL
- See more.
#1 College to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Surgical Technology:
Sienna Heights University in Adrian, MI
Not sure which surgical tech program is the best fit for you? Use College Raptor to discover personalized college matches, cost estimates, acceptance odds, and potential financial aid for schools around the US—for FREE!
