Travel Surgical Technologist Salary Guide

A certified surgical technologist is an allied health professional who works in the operating room. Job duties include sterilizing equipment, passing tools to the surgeon and other team members, retracting tissue to give the surgeon a better view of the surgical site, applying dressings and maintaining a sterile field. Certified surgical technologists also prepare patients for surgery, which typically involves cleaning and disinfecting the operative site to prevent infection. Experienced certified surgical technologists may specialize in cardiology, neurology or other disciplines.

How do you become a certified surgical technologist?

To become a certified surgical technologist, you must complete a 12-month certificate or a 2-year associate degree in surgical technology. Program requirements vary by school, but you should expect to take classes in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, biomedical ethics and principles of surgical technology. If you decide to pursue a 2-year degree, your school may also require you to complete general education courses in English, math and humanities.

In Arkansas, certified surgical technologists must earn licensure through the Arkansas Medical Board to use the Registered Surgical Technologist title. To qualify for a license, you must graduate from a nationally accredited surgical technology program and pass the certification exam offered by the National Center for Competency Testing or the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

What credentials/licensing does a certified surgical technologist require?

Arkansas is the only state that requires a license, but three states require certified surgical technologists to register with a government agency:

  • Colorado: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies

  • North Dakota: North Dakota Board of Nursing Unlicensed Assistive Person & Medication Assistant Registry

  • Washington: Washington Department of Health

Depending on where you live, you may have to pass the NBSTSA exam before working as a certified surgical technologist. The following states require you to earn the NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist credential:

  • Idaho 

  • Indiana

  • Massachusetts

  • Nevada

  • Oregon

  • South Carolina

  • Tennessee

  • Texas

In Arkansas, Illinois and Virginia, the NBSTSA credential is only necessary if you want to use the Registered Surgical Technologist title.

Average Travel Surgical Technologist Salary

$1,915/week

The average salary for a Travel Surgical Technologist is $1,915 per week. This is 31% lower than the practicing US average of $2,516.

Last updated on October 18, 2026. Based on 1,511 active jobs on Vivian.com in the last 7 days.

Salaries for Travel Surgical Technologist compared to Allied Health Professional National Averages

$1,915/week

31% lower than the practicing US average.

$2,516/week

United States

Where do Travel Surgical Technologists get paid the most?

Nevada pays Travel Surgical Technologists the most, averaging $2,241 per week, followed by South Dakota ($2,200) and New Hampshire ($2,133). Minnesota has the highest ceiling, with max weekly pay reaching $3,240. For comparison, the national average for Travel Surgical Technologists is $1,915 per week — Nevada pays 17% more.

StateAverage Weekly SalaryMax Weekly Salary
Nevada$2,241$2,716
South Dakota$2,200$2,307
New Hampshire$2,133$2,500
Massachusetts$2,121$2,815
North Dakota$2,095$2,735
Minnesota$2,088$3,240
Illinois$2,084$2,967
Maine$2,066$2,709
New Jersey$2,064$2,430
Vermont$2,062$2,929
West Virginia$2,061$2,433
Ohio$2,056$2,618
Utah$2,046$2,122
Wyoming$2,045$2,197
Washington$2,026$2,406
Wisconsin$2,025$2,360
Montana$1,982$2,707
Pennsylvania$1,982$2,695
What cities pay the most for Travel Surgical Technologists?

Salem, Virginia pays Travel Surgical Technologists the most, averaging $3,585 per week, followed by Oakland, California ($3,370) and Burlington, Vermont ($2,741). For comparison, the national average for Travel Surgical Technologists is $1,915 per week — Salem, Virginia pays 87% more.

CityAverage Weekly SalaryMax Weekly Salary
Salem, Virginia$3,585$3,585
Oakland, California$3,370$3,370
Burlington, Vermont$2,741$2,929
Cambridge, Massachusetts$2,501$2,815
Chula Vista, California$2,425$2,425
Springfield, Ohio$2,321$2,618
Peoria, Illinois$2,320$2,967
Rogers, Arkansas$2,315$2,315
Glenwood Springs, Colorado$2,277$2,327
Cumming, Georgia$2,276$2,470
What are the highest paying Employers and Agencies for Travel Surgical Technologist jobs?

Bluebix Solutions pays Travel Surgical Technologists the most, averaging $2,952 per week, followed by CareerNation ($2,821) and The Judge Group ($2,684). For comparison, the national average for Travel Surgical Technologists is $1,915 per week — Bluebix Solutions pays 54% more.

Average Weekly SalaryMax Weekly Salary
Bluebix Solutions$2,952$2,952
CareerNation$2,821$2,821
The Judge Group$2,684$2,684
Advantage Staffing Services$2,592$2,592
HONESTLOVE GLOBAL PROFESSIONAL STAFFING$2,584$2,584
Amergis Healthcare Staffing, Inc.-Allied$2,544$2,815
Emonics Healthcare$2,430$2,430
PEL/VIP$2,400$2,400
The Good Life MedStaff$2,396$2,450
Reliant Staffing Partners$2,390$2,390

Last updated on October 18, 2026. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com.

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Travel Surgical Technologist Career Guide

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How can you increase your pay as a travel certified surgical technologist?

Accepting travel assignments is probably the fastest route to higher earnings, as you can get a travel job without taking additional exams or enrolling in a degree program.

How much does a travel certified surgical technologist make?

Vivian Health's salary data for the week ending April 8, 2023, showed that travel certified surgical technologists earned an average of $2,094 per week, about $635 more per week than certified surgical technologists on staff. For each 13-week assignment, that's a total of $27,222 for travelers.

Do travel certified surgical technologists earn more than staff certified surgical technologists?

The average hourly rate for staff certified surgical technologist jobs was $36.47 per hour, per Vivian Health’s salary data on April 8, 2023. If you multiply that by 40 hours in a standard workweek, it comes to $1,458.80. In contrast, travel certified surgical technologists earned an average of $2,094 per week, about 43.5% more.

What states employ the most certified surgical technologists?

According to the BLS data for 2021, these five states have the most working certified surgical technologists:

  • California: 11,390

  • Texas: 10,820

  • Florida: 7,370

  • New York: 5,720

  • Michigan: 4,130

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