{"id":6545,"date":"2025-01-08T15:00:34","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T15:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/?p=6545"},"modified":"2025-01-08T16:41:27","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T16:41:27","slug":"high-paying-surgical-technologist-specialties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/high-paying-surgical-technologist-specialties\/","title":{"rendered":"Highest-Paid Surgical Technology Specialties in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<h6 id=\"back-to-top\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Surgeons can\u2019t do it alone in the operating room (OR), which means you can find exciting and impactful careers in healthcare working on their teams. OR personnel often includes a small army of nurses, anesthesia specialists and a group of allied health professionals known as surgical assistants and technologists.<\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With many allied health fields among the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/career-resources\/fastest-growing-healthcare-careers-in-2025\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fastest-growing healthcare careers in 2025<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Vivian Health explores five popular career choices in surgical technology. We cover the education and certification requirements to enter these surgical tech specialties, provide average salaries for staff and travel roles and highlight key states that offer the best pay to help you decide if one is right for your career goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #3c3b3d;color:#3c3b3d\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #3c3b3d;color:#3c3b3d\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/high-paying-surgical-technologist-specialties\/#surgical_technology_demand_and_salaries\" >Surgical Technology Demand and Salaries<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/high-paying-surgical-technologist-specialties\/#5_surgical_technology_career_options\" >5 Surgical Technology Career Options<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/high-paying-surgical-technologist-specialties\/#1_surgical_technician\" >1. Surgical Technician<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/high-paying-surgical-technologist-specialties\/#2_surgical_technologist\" >2. Surgical Technologist<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/high-paying-surgical-technologist-specialties\/#3_certified_surgical_technologist\" >3. Certified Surgical Technologist<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/high-paying-surgical-technologist-specialties\/#4_cvor_surgical_technologist\" >4. CVOR Surgical Technologist<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/high-paying-surgical-technologist-specialties\/#5_surgical_first_assistant\" >5. Surgical First Assistant<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/high-paying-surgical-technologist-specialties\/#grow_your_career_on_vivian\" >Grow Your Career on Vivian<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"surgical_technology_demand_and_salaries\"><\/span><b>Surgical Technology Demand and Salaries<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work in surgical technology continues to be in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that surgical assistants and technologists will experience <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/surgical-technologists.htm\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">job growth of 6%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and an average of 8,700 job openings yearly between 2023 and 2033. That\u2019s faster than the average job growth of all U.S. occupations combined. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With this kind of demand, it\u2019s typical for surgical technology professionals to earn pay ranging in the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/fred.stlouisfed.org\/series\/MEPAINUSA672N\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">top half of U.S. workers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014above $42,220 per year\u2014and possibly much more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salaries in surgical tech specialties vary by location, job type (e.g., travel vs. staff positions), education and experience level. For instance, data from Vivian Health on December 9, 2024, showed that the average hourly wage for a staff surgical technician was $22.66, while the average hourly rate for the more highly educated Certified Surgical Technologist was $34.84.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pursuing certifications and a surgical technology specialty is a great way to increase your salary potential, expand your knowledge base and position yourself as a key member of a vital healthcare team. Some careers within surgical technology require a relatively short educational commitment, offering an ideal path to enter a healthcare profession and start earning a decent living quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6549\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Surgical-Tech5-by-stefamerpik-on-Freepik-Resized-scaled-e1708467396907.jpg\" alt=\"Surgical technologist, surgical tech, surgery, operating room\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><br \/>\n<small><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freepik.com\/free-photo\/doctor-nurse-medical-team-are-performing-surgical-operation-emergency-room-hospital-assistant-hands-out-scissor-instruments-surgeons-during-operation_28003166.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Image by stefamerpik<\/a> on Freepik<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-style: normal;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_surgical_technology_career_options\"><\/span><strong>5 Surgical Technology Career Options<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s explore the roles within common surgical technology specialties, how education and responsibility shape opportunities and the specialized roles that often come with greater earning potential. We&#8217;ll also analyze the salary data for these specialties, ranging from roles that require less education and responsibility to those providing higher earnings in specialized roles. We collected our data from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/salary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vivian Health&#8217;s salary calculator<\/a> on December 9, 2024, with the numbers below depicting the salaries and job availability at that time. To calculate weekly staff wages, we multiplied the hourly rate by a 40-hour work week and multiplied that by 52 weeks to get the annual rates.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_surgical_technician\"><\/span>1. <a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/allied-health\/surgical-technician\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Surgical Technician<\/b><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surgical Technicians collaborate with the surgical team to prepare and maintain the space, manage instruments and ensure procedures run seamlessly. Their accuracy and calm demeanor under pressure are essential for patient safety and the success of surgeries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entering this field requires a relatively short post-secondary education in a program that teaches the foundational skills needed to assist during surgeries. These programs, offered by technical schools, community colleges and hospitals, combine classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vivian researched job salaries based on open roles posted on our site during the week of December 9, 2024. During our research time frame, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-technician\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">surgical technician salaries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> averaged $22.66 per hour ($906 per week), totaling $47,133 yearly in a full-time role. Meanwhile, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-technician\/travel\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">surgical technician travel salaries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> averaged $1,882 per week, offering a considerable premium over staff roles for those willing to move around the country to places where surgical technicians are acutely needed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the same period, various health systems and healthcare recruiters across the U.S. posted 20 job openings on Vivian for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-technician\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">staff surgical technicians<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and well over 100 listings for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-technician\/travel\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel surgical technicians<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Opportunities abound across the country, including travel roles that can maximize your pay in the following states.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Top Five Best-Paying States for Travel Surgical Technicians<\/b><\/h5>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Average Weekly Travel Salary<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Max Weekly Travel Salary<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wisconsin<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,242<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$3,069<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connecticut<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,190<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,336<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massachusetts<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,152<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,720<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minnesota<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,136<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,745<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vermont<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,066<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,440<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><small><em>Based on jobs posted to Vivian Health during the week of December 9, 2024.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8099\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/OR-Team-scaled-e1736351127142.jpeg\" alt=\"Operating room nurses, OR techs, Physician assistant and surgeon\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_surgical_technologist\"><\/span>2. <a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/allied-health\/surgical-tech\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Surgical Technologist<\/b><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes called surgical techs, Surgical Technologists prepare operating rooms, ensure instruments are sterile and assist surgeons by passing instruments, managing supplies and supporting patient care after surgery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Educational requirements for surgical technologists vary by state, making it essential to check specific state regulations. Typically, the path involves earning a high school diploma or equivalent and then completing a postsecondary certificate or associate degree from an accredited program. Accreditation should be from either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During our research, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-tech\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">surgical technologist salaries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> averaged $33.55 per hour ($1,324 per week), which equals $69,784 per year. However, pay varied considerably for this job based on location and demand. For instance, surgical techs earned an average of $40 per hour or more in five states.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Top Five Best-Paying States for Staff Surgical Techs<\/b><\/h5>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Average Staff Hourly Salary<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Washington<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$56<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">California<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$55<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oregon<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$50<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virginia<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$40<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Carolina<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$40<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><small><em>Based on jobs posted to Vivian Health during the week of December 9, 2024.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-tech\/travel\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel surgical technologists<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> earned an average of $1,860 weekly during the same time frame. Travel surgical techs can earn more by going to the most in-demand locations like their staff counterparts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Top Five Best-Paying States for Travel Surgical Techs<\/b><\/h5>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Average Weekly Travel Salary<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connecticut<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,265<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wisconsin<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,243<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Idaho<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,223<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vermont<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,190<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massachusetts<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,165<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><small><em>Based on jobs posted to Vivian Health during the week of December 9, 2024.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the week of December 9, 2024, well over 100 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-tech\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">staff surgical tech jobs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and hundreds of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-technician\/travel\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel surgical tech jobs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were posted to Vivian. Surgical technologists have the opportunity to specialize in specific fields that can offer higher salaries. Specializations include cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, organ transplants, orthopedics, pediatrics, plastic surgery and many others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/allied-health\/surgical-technician-vs-surgical-technologist-whats-the-difference\/\"><b>Surgical Technician vs. Surgical Technologist: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7705\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/12\/General-Surgery-NP-or-RN-Resized-scaled-e1701965752986.jpg\" alt=\"General Surgery NP or RN in operating room\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_certified_surgical_technologist\"><\/span>3. <a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/allied-health\/certified-surgical-technologist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Certified Surgical Technologist<\/b><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certified Surgical Technologists (CSTs) perform critical tasks such as sterilizing equipment, passing tools to surgeons and their teams, retracting tissue to improve visibility during procedures, applying dressings and maintaining a sterile environment. While their responsibilities overlap with those assigned to surgical technologists, CSTs distinguish themselves by achieving certification. Some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ast.org\/Public_Policy\/Map_of_State_Laws\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">states have mandatory certification, licensure and\/or registration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for employment as a surgical technologist, while others have no requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aspiring professionals must complete an accredited postsecondary program with a certificate or associate degree. Then, to earn the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/cst\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certified Surgical Technologist<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> credential, you must meet the eligibility requirements and pass the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) test. Some states also recognize certification from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) or surgical professionals who\u2019ve completed a military surgical technology program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The typical <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/certified-surgical-technologist\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">certified surgical technologist salary<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was $34.55 per hour ($1,382) on December 9, 2024, equating to $71,864 per year in a full-time staff position. However, CSTs could find above-average pay in three states during this period: Idaho at $51 per hour, Illinois at $39 per hour and Texas at $38 per hour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, the average <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/certified-surgical-technologist\/travel\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weekly salary for a travel-certified surgical technologist<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was $1,862. Travelers in this field can earn more by going to the most in-demand and high-paying states.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Top Five Best-Paying States for Travel Certified Surgical Technologists<\/b><\/h5>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Average Weekly Salary<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Max Weekly Salary<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wisconsin<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,242<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$3,069<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connecticut<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,190<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,336<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massachusetts<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,152<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,720<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minnesota\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,136<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,745<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vermont<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,066<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,440<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><small><em>Based on jobs posted to Vivian Health during the week of December 9, 2024.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During our research week, health systems and staffing agencies posted over 75 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/certified-surgical-technologist\/?page=4\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">certified surgical technologist staff jobs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to Vivian\u2019s jobs marketplace. Many jobs listed <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NCCT or CST-NBSTSA certifications as required qualifications to apply. Meanwhile, during the same timeframe, we saw just shy of 1,000 postings for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/certified-surgical-technologist\/travel\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel certified surgical technologist jobs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, offering a wide range of opportunities across the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/02\/Surgical-Tech3-Resized-scaled-e1708467527651.jpg\" alt=\"CVOR tech\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_cvor_surgical_technologist\"><\/span>4. <a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/allied-health\/cvor-tech\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>CVOR Surgical Technologist<\/b><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardiovascular Operating Room (CVOR) Surgical Technologists oversee the preparation for cardiovascular procedures. They ensure all equipment is set up correctly, maintain a sterile field and manage instruments and supplies throughout the procedure. Specializing in this field typically requires a minimum of three years of experience as a general surgical technologist.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on our data set, the average <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/cvor-tech\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CVOR surgical technologist salary<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was $28.66 per hour ($1,146 per week), or roughly $59,613 annually for a full-time staff role. This pay level was lower than the average of a general surgical technologist, but this may result from the small number of postings<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">less than 10<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for staff <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/cvor-tech\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CVOR surgical technologist jobs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on Vivian at the time of our research. A look at pay levels for travel CVOR roles may better reflect the premium pay offered to this specialty over a generalist.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The average <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/cvor-tech\/travel\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel CVOR surgical technologist salary<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was much higher at $2,119 per week, based on the more robust average of over 1,000 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/cvor-tech\/travel\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel CVOR surgical technologist job<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> listings on Vivian. That compares favorably to the $1,860 per week average for a general travel surgical technologist. Of course, travelers in this role can earn more by taking assignments in top-paying states.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Top Five Best-Paying States for Travel CVOR Surgical Techs<\/b><\/h5>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Average Weekly Salary<\/b><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Max Weekly Salary<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">District of Columbia<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,571<\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$3,316<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Washington\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,527<\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$3,136<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virginia<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,497<\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$3,255<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massachusetts<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,354<\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,769<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Mexico<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,326<\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$3,136<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><small><em>Based on jobs posted to Vivian Health during the week of December 9, 2024.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_surgical_first_assistant\"><\/span>5. <a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/allied-health\/surgical-first-assistant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Surgical First Assistant<\/b><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically earning the best pay among surgical technology roles is the Surgical First Assistant (SFA). This higher salary reflects the rigor of training and experience necessary to enter this field. To become an SFA, generally, you must first be a licensed Registered Nurse (RN), certified surgical technologist or Physician Assistant (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/pa\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) with specialized training in surgical assisting. After graduating from an approved surgical first assistant program, certification through NBSTSA offers the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/certifications\/csfa\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> credential, which is usually necessary before beginning your career.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An SFA works closely with surgeons during procedures, ensuring the safety and success of operations. They provide comprehensive support to patients throughout the surgical process, including pre-operative preparation, intra-operative assistance and post-operative care. Key responsibilities include preparing and draping patients, managing surgical instruments, suturing incisions, controlling bleeding and providing wound care.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During our research, the average <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-first-assistant\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">surgical first assistant salary<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was $39.48 per hour ($1,579 per week), equivalent to $82,118 per year in a full-time position. Meanwhile, a typical <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-first-assistant\/travel\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel surgical first assistant wage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was $2,273 weekly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Vivian Health had limited job postings for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-first-assistant\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">staff surgical first assistants<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on December 9, 2024, there were over 70 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/allied-health\/surgical-first-assistant\/travel\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel surgical first assistant jobs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on our site during our research time frame.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Top Five Best-Paying States for Travel Surgical First Assistants<\/b><\/h5>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Average Weekly Salary<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Maximum Weekly Salary<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Missouri<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,804<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$3,154<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Georgia<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,535<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$3,029<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Illinois<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,455<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,660<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indiana<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,310<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$3,066<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michigan<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,113<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$2,510<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><small><em>Based on jobs posted to Vivian Health during the week of December 9, 2024.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"grow_your_career_on_vivian\"><\/span><strong>Grow Your Career on Vivian<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interested in growing your career with one of these surgical technology specialties? Explore the employment possibilities on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/browse-jobs\/landing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vivian Health\u2019s jobs marketplace<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and start your career in the surgical technology field today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a style=\"background-color: #124e3b; color: #fdfeff; font-size: 20px; border-radius: 10px; padding: 15px; min-height: 30px; min-width: 120px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/browse-jobs\/landing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Browse Jobs<\/a><\/p>\n<p><small><em><b>Editor\u2019s Note:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This blog post was originally published in March 2023 and has been updated annually to reflect the most recent data. The Surgical Technology specialties currently listed were the highest-paying among the positions posted on Vivian Health as of this publication.<\/span><\/em><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Elevate your healthcare career and financial outlook with the thrill of working in the OR.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":9051,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[325,326],"tags":[148,19,402,469,407,303,426,470,471,411,463,90],"class_list":["post-6545","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allied-health","category-money-taxes","tag-allied-health","tag-allied-health-professional","tag-certified-surgical-technologist","tag-cvor-surgical-technologist","tag-cvor-tech","tag-permanent","tag-staff","tag-surgical-first-assistant","tag-surgical-technician","tag-surgical-technologist","tag-surgical-tech","tag-travel"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/Surgical-Technology-Professionals-iStock-Resized-scaled-e1736351052680.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6545","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6545"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6545\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6545"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6545"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6545"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}