Travel Surgical Technician Salary Guide
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Surgical technicians, also called surgical techs, play an essential role in keeping patients safe during surgical procedures. Before a procedure begins, the surgical tech typically verifies that the operating room (OR) is clean, then brings the patient from the holding area into the OR. As the procedure progresses, the surgical tech is responsible for maintaining a sterile environment and ensuring that surgeons and other personnel have the right equipment and supplies. Surgical techs are also responsible for sterilizing equipment, putting patients at ease and setting up monitors and different types of OR equipment.
How do you become a surgical tech?
After earning your high school diploma or GED, the first step to becoming a surgical tech is to complete a postsecondary surgical technology program at a community college or vocational school to obtain a certificate or associate degree. Surgical technology programs typically include anatomy, physiology, patient care, medical terminology and biomedical ethics coursework. You may also have the opportunity to complete an internship or clinical experience, ensuring you feel confident in your skills before you apply for your first surgical tech job.
What credentials/licensing does a surgical tech require?
Most employers require their surgical techs to have the Basic Life Support certification offered by the American Heart Association. If they become certified as a surgical technologist, Certified Surgical Technologists must be licensed in Arkansas and obtain the Certified Surgical Technologist credential from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) in the following states:
Idaho
Indiana
Massachusetts
Nevada
New Jersey
Oregon
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
If you live in New York, you must get certified by a nationally accredited organization. The NBSTSA credential satisfies this requirement.
Some states may also require surgical technicians to be certified through the NBSTSA or earn the National Center for Competency Testing’s Tech in Surgery–Certified credential. Even if your state has no certification requirements, seeking professional credentials can benefit your career.
Average Travel Surgical Technician Salary
$1,877/week
The average salary for a Travel Surgical Technician is $1,877 per week. This is 25% lower than the practicing US average of $2,355.
Last updated on April 27, 2024. Based on 666 active jobs on Vivian.com in the last 7 days.
Salaries for Travel Surgical Technician compared to Allied Health Professional National Averages
$1,877/week
25% lower than the practicing US average.
$2,355/week
United States
Where do Travel Surgical Technicians get paid the most?
| State | Average Weekly Salary | Max Weekly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | $2,256 | $2,917 |
| North Dakota | $2,255 | $2,686 |
| Minnesota | $2,217 | $2,514 |
| Utah | $2,200 | $2,804 |
| Montana | $2,124 | $2,602 |
| Illinois | $2,096 | $2,412 |
| Kansas | $2,084 | $2,266 |
| Massachusetts | $2,068 | $2,590 |
| New Jersey | $1,989 | $2,261 |
| Colorado | $1,980 | $2,271 |
| Washington | $1,963 | $2,890 |
What cities pay the most for Travel Surgical Technicians?
| City | Average Weekly Salary | Max Weekly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Orem, Utah | $2,527 | $2,551 |
| Cambridge, Massachusetts | $2,519 | $2,590 |
| Pewaukee, Wisconsin | $2,444 | $2,444 |
| Overland Park, Kansas | $2,438 | $2,649 |
| Madison, Wisconsin | $2,384 | $2,901 |
| Urbana, Illinois | $2,300 | $2,412 |
| Issaquah, Washington | $2,299 | $2,299 |
| Bismarck, North Dakota | $2,286 | $2,686 |
What are the highest paying Employers and Agencies for Travel Surgical Technician jobs?
| Average Weekly Salary | Max Weekly Salary | |
|---|---|---|
| Bestica | $2,893 | $2,893 |
| LanceSoft | $2,577 | $2,976 |
| Talent4Health | $2,519 | $2,519 |
| TalentBurst, Inc | $2,483 | $2,483 |
| eTeam Inc | $2,422 | $2,422 |
| Summit Medical Staffing Nursing | $2,410 | $2,410 |
| Superbeo Health | $2,388 | $2,388 |
| TinkBird Healthcare Staffing | $2,378 | $2,378 |
| GQR Healthcare | $2,362 | $2,362 |
| NuWest Travel Nursing | $2,352 | $2,890 |
Last updated on April 27, 2024. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com.
Travel Surgical Technician Career Guide
Use our exclusive Career Guides to research the education, qualifications, skills and responsibilities for a variety of healthcare disciplines and specialties employers are hiring now.
Go to the guideTop Travel Surgical Technician Jobs
Travel Surgical Technician
- Bakersfield, CA
- TRS Healthcare
- 5x8 hrs, Days
Travel Surgical Technician
- Gold Beach, OR
- Host Healthcare
- 5x8 hrs, Days
Travel Surgical Technician
- Silver Spring, MD
- LeaderStat
- 3x12 hrs
Travel Surgical Technician
- Germantown, MD
- Host Healthcare
- 4x10 hrs, Days
Travel Surgical Technician
- Rochester, MI
- Host Healthcare
- 3x12 hrs, Nights
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Do travel surgical techs earn more than staff surgical techs?
Travel surgical techs generally earn more than surgical techs in staff positions. If you work 40 hours per week at the average staff rate of $38.12 per hour, your weekly salary totals about $1,525. As noted earlier, the average weekly salary for travel surgical techs was $2,125, a difference of about $600 weekly and more than $31,000 annually.
How much does a travel surgical tech make?
Per Vivian Health's salary data, travel surgical technicians earned an average weekly wage of $2,125 during the first week of April 2023. Divided by a 40-hour workweek, this wage equals $53.13 per hour.
What states employ the most surgical techs?
States with large populations tend to have some of the highest employment levels for each job, and surgical technician roles are no exception. According to BLS, these states employ the most surgical techs:
California: 11,390
Texas: 10,820
Florida: 7,370
New York: 5,720
Michigan: 4,130
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