If you’re considering a career as a surgical technologist, one of the first questions on your mind is likely: “How much can I make?” The answer can vary significantly depending on several factors, such as your level of experience, geographic location, and the type of facility in which you work. In this article, we’ll explore the surgical tech salary, the variables that affect their salaries, and how you can maximize your income in this rewarding career.
What is the Median Salary for a Surgical Tech?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for a surgical technologist is approximately $60,370 per year or $29.03 per hour. With a career in surgical technology, you’re looking at a median hourly wage close to $30, which makes it a solid and relatively lucrative career path. But that’s just the median wage — your actual salary may be higher or lower depending on various factors.
Factors That Influence Surgical Tech Salary
Let’s break down the four key factors that can influence how much a surgical tech makes:
- Level of Experience
- Overtime Opportunities
- Geographic Location
- Type of Work Setting
Factor 1: Level of Experience
Just like in any career, your level of experience plays a crucial role in determining your salary. The more experienced you are, the more you can expect to earn.
Entry-Level Salaries
When you first start out as an entry-level surgical tech, your salary will likely hover around the $30 per hour mark, translating to about $60,000 per year. This is a good starting wage, especially considering that some healthcare professions require much more extensive schooling before achieving comparable wages.
Experienced Surgical Techs
As you gain more experience, the ceiling rises. Experienced surgical technologists can earn significantly more. In fact, the top 10% of earners in the field make more than $83,000 per year. That’s a significant bump from entry-level wages and a strong incentive to grow in your career. With time, effort, and skill development, the financial rewards can increase substantially.
Factor 2: Overtime Pay
Surgical technologists often have the opportunity to work overtime, which can greatly increase their annual earnings. Depending on your employer and location, overtime can boost your yearly salary into the six-figure range.
How Overtime Boosts Your Salary
Let’s say you’re already making $30 per hour. If you work overtime hours, typically paid at time-and-a-half, that’s an additional $45 per hour for every hour worked beyond your regular schedule. For those who are willing to work extra shifts or take on emergency cases, this is a fast track to significantly increasing your annual earnings.
Overtime also offers a chance for surgical techs to explore different specialties or even work on-call, further enhancing their skill set and earning potential.
Factor 3: Geographic Location
Where you live can also have a substantial impact on your salary as a surgical tech. The demand for healthcare professionals, cost of living, and local industry standards vary from state to state, which means that salaries for surgical techs fluctuate as well.
High-Paying States
In states like California, surgical techs can earn upwards of $76,000 per year. Cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where the cost of living is higher, typically offer competitive salaries to offset the expenses of living in such areas.
Lower-Paying States
On the other hand, states like Arkansas have a lower median salary, around $50,000 per year. While this may seem like a significant difference, it’s important to consider the cost of living. Living expenses, including housing, food, and taxes, are much lower in states like Arkansas compared to California.
Cost of Living Considerations
Before you decide to move to a state with higher salaries, take the time to research the cost of living. Sure, you may earn more in California, but rent, groceries, and even taxes are considerably higher than in states with lower median wages. The same salary in two different states can feel very different depending on what your monthly bills look like.
Factor 4: Type of Work Setting
The environment you work in also affects how much you can make as a surgical tech. Surgical technologists typically work in one of the following settings:
- Hospitals
- Specialty clinics (e.g., cardiovascular or orthopedic clinics)
- Offices of physicians
Each work environment has its own pay scale, and those working in more specialized settings tend to earn more.
Hospitals
Hospitals employ the largest number of surgical technologists, and the median salary in this setting is approximately $62,000 per year. While hospitals provide steady employment and a wide variety of surgical cases, they may not always offer the highest salaries compared to other facilities.
Specialty Clinics
If you work in a specialty clinic, such as a cardiovascular or orthopedic clinic, you can expect to earn even more. These facilities tend to offer higher wages, with the median salary reaching $70,000 per year. In these specialized environments, surgical techs often develop more advanced skills, which can increase their market value over time.
Offices of Physicians
Surgical technologists who work in physicians’ offices generally earn less than their counterparts in hospitals or specialty clinics. The median salary in this environment is lower, but the work may be less demanding, with more regular hours and fewer emergencies.
Maximizing Your Earning Potential
So, how can you maximize your earning potential as a surgical technologist? Here are a few tips:
- Gain Experience: As discussed earlier, the more experience you have, the higher your earning potential. Consider specializing in a specific area of surgery to command higher wages.
- Take on Overtime: If your schedule allows, pick up extra shifts. Overtime pay can significantly increase your income, especially if you are in a high-demand specialty.
- Consider Geographic Location: If you’re flexible with where you live, research high-paying states or cities and weigh that against the cost of living.
- Focus on Specialization: Working in specialized settings such as cardiovascular or orthopedic clinics can lead to higher wages. Consider pursuing certifications or additional training to make yourself more marketable in these high-paying areas.
How You Could Become a Surgical Tech with The Preppy Method
If the traditional pathway to becoming a surgical technologist seems daunting, there’s a more efficient and cost-effective alternative: Preppy’s online surgical tech programs. In fact, this method allows you to obtain the necessary training, surgical tech certification, and clinical experience in just a few months, without the high costs or long-time commitments associated with CAAHEP-accredited programs.
Conclusion
A career as a surgical technologist offers solid financial rewards, with a median salary of around $63,350 per year and the potential to earn over $83,000 with experience. Overtime opportunities, geographic location, and your work environment can all significantly impact your earnings. By gaining experience, specializing, and considering your work location, you can maximize your earning potential in this rewarding healthcare career.
Whether you’re just starting out or considering making a change, surgical technology offers plenty of opportunities for growth and financial stability.
Also read: Surgical Tech Education – What Are Your Options?
About:
Preppy was founded by higher education expert, Grant Aldrich, whose work on college affordability and accessibility has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, Business Insider, American Express, AOL, MSN, Thrive Global, Reader’s Digest, Inside Higher Ed, Evolllution, EducationDive, and nearly 100 radio shows and podcasts.
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