Surgical Technologist Salary Factsheet
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Surgical Tech Salary Factsheet »Surgical Tech Salaries
Surgical Technician Salary Guide
The field of surgical technology is one of the very few that can offer a very satisfying income, as well as a fulfilling job. Also, surgical technologists enjoy significant career security, as the demand for such professionals is rapidly increasing. It is estimated that there are five surgical technologist positions for each surgeon position, but also, since a significant growth in this field is expected, the number of job opportunities for surgical techs is to be increased.
The starting surgical tech salaries
The starting salary of a surgical tech is approximately $24,000 per year. This may not seem very satisfactory at first, but one should know that this income will be rapidly increasing over the years. The income of highly qualified and experienced surgical technologists may become more than twice or even almost three times the starting surgical tech salary.
The average salary of a surgical tech
The average surgical tech salary is approximately $40,000 per year, according to the Bureau for Labour Statistics, which certainly is a very satisfying income.
Factors that the Surgical Tech Salary Depends On
The surgical technician’s salary varies depending in several factors. The most important ones are listed below:
- Education
- Experience
- State
- Geographical location
- Institution type
Although there are surgical tech programs that can be completed in a year or less and provide the candidate with a diploma or a certificate, if one is planning to become an appreciated surgical technologist with satisfying income, he/she should take his/her education seriously and earn an Associate’s degree, since it is preferred by employers.
The experience, of course, is another crucial factor in determining the salary of a surgical technologist. As one gains experience his value as a professional is increasing. Surgical technologists with more that two decades of working experience can earn even more that $60 000.
The income of surgical technicians varies depending on the country they live and work in, too. For example, the surgical techs working in Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska and California are paid the best, earning around $50 000 in Nevada and approximately $48 000 in California.
But one must also not forget that the size and urbanization of the city influences the salary, too. People living in bigger, highly developed and urbanized regions earn more than the ones living in small towns. For example, the surgical technologists working in New York earns an average annual salary of up to $70 000 and they are the best paid ones. The ones employed in Chicago and Atlanta are next on the list, earning around $60 000 per year. So, if one seeks a better salary, it is recommended to work in a big, urbanized city. That is what makes the geographical location a very important factor.
The type of medical institution the surgical tech works for has a crucial role in determining his/her salary. The specialty hospitals pay their surgical techs the most. The surgical techs working for such hospitals earn an average salary of around $45, 000 per year. The surgical technologists employed in physician's offices earn around $42,000, whereas the ones working for general hospitals have an average annual salary of $40,000. The surgical technicians working in dental clinics are paid the least, with an average annual income of $37,000.
| Most Common Work Placement | Average Annual Salary |
| Hospitals | $45,000 |
| Physician's clinics | $42,000 |
| Dental clinic | $37,000 |
There are other factors determining the surgical tech salary, such as the working hours, the responsibilities, the living standard etc.
The profession of a surgical technologist does not require long years of education, which makes it more suitable and achievable for the ones interested in this area of work. It is an appreciated job with a very satisfying income, so investing in such career is an intelligent decision.
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