How Much Does a Surgical Technician Get Paid?
Would you like a fast-paced job saving people's lives in hospital operating rooms? A surgical technician career might be for you. Keep reading to learn more about the average salaries for surgical technicians. Schools offering Surgical Technology degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
Surgical Technician Job Description
Surgical technicians (also known as surgical technologists) aid surgeons, nurses and anesthesiologists with surgical procedures. They sterilize the operating room, help patients prepare for surgery and provide surgical instruments to doctors during an operation. To work as a surgical technician, you must undergo a training program after high school and earn a diploma, certificate or associate's degree from an accredited school. Your salary as a surgical technician can depend on the location where you work, your experience level and your certification status.
Average Salaries
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), surgical technicians made an average annual salary of $41,310 as of May 2010. Surgical technicians in the tenth percentile of earners made a mean wage of $28,100 per year, while those in the 90th percentile earned an estimated $57,330 annually. The majority of surgical technicians were employed at hospitals (www.bls.gov).
Salaries by State
If you want to position yourself in a state that has one of the best salaries, the BLS reported in May 2010 that Nevada, Hawaii and Alaska offered surgical technicians the highest average incomes, with yearly mean wages over $49,000 each. The District of Columbia and California also were high-paying states for surgical technicians, with mean annual salaries over $48,500.
Salaries by Experience
Your work experience can also influence how much you're paid as a surgical technician. According to PayScale.com in September 2011, most surgical technicians who had worked for less than one year made a yearly salary range of $20,542-$53,829. Most surgical technicians with 5-9 years of experience earned a wage range of $28,817-$73,083. The majority of those with 10-19 years of experience made an annual wage ranging from $35,752 to $61,659 (www.payscale.com).
Salaries by Certification
According to the BLS, those who receive certification after graduating from a surgical technician training program should have the best employment opportunities. The BLS reported that you can receive certification from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting to become a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), which requires you to complete a training program, pass an exam and pursue continuing education classes for re-certification. According to PayScale.com, most surgical technicians with their CST credential earned a salary range of $24,937-$59,180 as of September 2011.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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