Fazlur Rahman
The salary of a surgical tech in 2026 is approximately $60,000 per year at the national median, with a range of $45,000 to $85,000 depending on the state, specialty, and experience level. The top 10% of surgical techs earn more than $85,000, and the bottom 10% earn less than $45,000. Hourly rates run from $22 to $41, with a national median around $28 to $32 per hour. California, New York, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon are the highest-paying states, while West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and South Dakota sit at the bottom of the pay scale.
Salary figures cited below reflect the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics release for May 2025 (the most current at the time of writing) and the AST 2026 surgical technologist compensation survey. Costs and pay scales vary by region, employer type, and surgical specialty, so verify your specific offer with the hiring facility. The right move is to negotiate based on your CST credential, your surgical specialty (cardiac, neuro, ortho, transplant), and your years of experience, because the spread on offers for the same job can be 15% to 25%.
2026 surgical tech salary at a glance
The table below summarizes the 2026 salary ranges for surgical techs by experience level and surgical specialty, based on the BLS May 2025 release and the AST 2026 survey.
| Experience / Specialty | Annual salary range | Hourly rate | Top states |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (0-2 years) | $45,000 to $55,000 | $22 to $26 | CA, NY, NV |
| Mid-career (3-7 years) | $55,000 to $70,000 | $26 to $34 | CA, NY, WA |
| Senior (8-15 years) | $70,000 to $85,000 | $34 to $41 | CA, NY, OR |
| Cardiac surgical tech | $68,000 to $85,000 | $33 to $41 | CA, NY, MA |
| Neurosurgical tech | $70,000 to $90,000 | $34 to $43 | CA, NY, MN |
| Orthopedic surgical tech | $60,000 to $75,000 | $29 to $36 | CA, NY, FL |
| Transplant / trauma tech | $72,000 to $95,000 | $35 to $46 | CA, NY, IL |
| Travel surgical tech | $80,000 to $130,000 | $38 to $62 | All states |
| Surgical services manager | $95,000 to $135,000 | $46 to $65 | All states |
The right pick for most new graduates is a general surgical tech position at a hospital or level 1 trauma center, which offers the strongest clinical experience, the highest base pay, and the best tuition reimbursement for advanced specialty credentials. The right pick for experienced surgical techs is a cardiac, neuro, or transplant specialty, which adds $8,000 to $20,000 per year over a general surgical tech role, or a travel contract in a high-demand specialty, which pays 30% to 50% more than staff roles.
National median surgical tech salary in 2026
The national median salary of a surgical tech in 2026 is approximately $60,000 per year, or $28 to $32 per hour. That figure sits between the BLS May 2025 release ($60,500 mean annual for surgical technologists) and the AST 2026 compensation survey median ($62,400), reflecting typical 2% to 3% annual wage growth in the field. The top 10% of surgical techs earn more than $85,000 per year, and the bottom 10% earn less than $45,000. The middle 50% earn between $52,000 and $75,000, depending on experience and specialty (BLS OES, May 2025; AST 2026).
Strengths: stable demand, the option to specialize in higher-paying surgical services, sign-on bonuses of $5,000 to $20,000 in shortage markets, and overtime availability. Weaknesses: shift work including nights, weekends, and holidays is common; the work requires long periods of standing; and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and surgical smoke requires strict adherence to safety protocols. The right pick for new graduates is to start in a hospital general surgery role to get the strongest clinical experience, then specialize in cardiac, neuro, or transplant within 2 to 3 years, because specialty surgical techs earn 10% to 25% more than general surgical techs.
Surgical tech salary by state in 2026
Surgical tech salary by state in 2026 ranges from $42,000 (West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama) to $90,000 (California). The top 10 states all pay more than $70,000 per year. The bottom 5 states pay between $42,000 and $48,000. The right pick for geographic mobility is to get your CST credential first, then target California, New York, Nevada, Washington, or Oregon, where the salary is 25% to 50% above the national median.
| State | 2026 mean salary | Hourly rate | Cost-of-living index |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $90,000 | $43 | 142 (high) |
| New York | $83,000 | $40 | 139 (high) |
| Nevada | $80,000 | $38 | 105 (average) |
| Washington | $78,000 | $37 | 115 (moderate) |
| Oregon | $76,000 | $37 | 118 (moderate) |
| Alaska | $75,000 | $36 | 127 (high) |
| Massachusetts | $74,000 | $36 | 135 (high) |
| Connecticut | $73,000 | $35 | 129 (high) |
| New Jersey | $72,000 | $35 | 128 (high) |
| Maryland | $70,000 | $34 | 113 (moderate) |
| Texas | $60,000 | $29 | 99 (average) |
| Florida | $58,000 | $28 | 103 (average) |
| Illinois | $61,000 | $29 | 96 (below average) |
| Ohio | $58,000 | $28 | 91 (below average) |
| Pennsylvania | $59,000 | $28 | 97 (average) |
| National median | $60,000 | $29 | 100 (baseline) |
Strengths: California, New York, and Massachusetts pay the highest nominal salaries, but the cost of living in those states is also 35% to 40% above the national average. The right pick for real purchasing power is Nevada, Washington, or Oregon, where the salary is 25% to 35% above the national median and the cost of living is at or below 20% above the national average. The right pick for early career is Texas or Florida, where the cost of living is below the national average and the salary is at the national median (BLS OES, May 2025; MERIC 2026 cost-of-living index).
Hourly rate for surgical techs
The hourly rate for surgical techs in 2026 is $22 to $41 per hour, with a national median of $28 to $32 per hour. Entry-level hourly rates start at $22 to $26, mid-career rates run $26 to $34, and senior or specialty rates reach $34 to $41. Cardiac surgical techs earn $33 to $41, neurosurgical techs earn $34 to $43, and transplant or trauma surgical techs earn $35 to $46. Travel surgical techs earn $38 to $62 per hour, which is 30% to 50% above staff rates because the higher hourly rate compensates for the lack of benefits and the disruption of relocation (AST 2026; BLS OES, May 2025).
Strengths: overtime is paid at 1.5x the base rate at most employers, and many hospitals offer "call" or "standby" pay of $4 to $8 per hour for surgical techs who cover emergency procedures. Weaknesses: hourly rates are flat in the bottom-quartile-paying states regardless of experience. The right pick for maximizing hourly earnings is to specialize in cardiac, neuro, or transplant, because the specialty differential is $5 to $10 per hour, and to pick up call shifts when available, because the standby + activation pay can add $10,000 to $20,000 per year to a mid-career surgical tech.
Highest-paying employers for surgical techs
The highest-paying employers for surgical techs in 2026 are: HCA Healthcare ($62K-$82K), Kaiser Permanente ($80K-$105K), Cleveland Clinic ($70K-$92K), Mayo Clinic ($75K-$98K), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ($63K-$85K). Hospital systems typically pay more than ambulatory surgery centers, but ambulatory centers offer better hours and lighter call. Travel agencies including AMN Healthcare, Aya Healthcare, and Trusted Nurse Staffing pay the highest gross hourly rates ($38-$62) but offer minimal benefits (AST 2026; employer-reported salary data, 2026).
Strengths: Kaiser Permanente and the Mayo Clinic offer the highest base salaries with the best benefits, including pension plans, retiree health insurance, and tuition reimbursement for advanced surgical specialties. Weaknesses: the highest-paying employers are concentrated in California, Minnesota, and Ohio, which means geographic mobility is required. The right pick for top pay with career development is Kaiser Permanente in California. The right pick for top pay with maximum flexibility is a travel contract through Aya or AMN.
Surgical tech career outlook through 2034
The surgical tech career outlook through 2034 is strong. The BLS projects 6% employment growth from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than the 4% average for all occupations. By 2034, the US will need approximately 127,000 surgical technologists, an increase of 7,000 from the current base of 120,000. The drivers are: the aging US population, increased surgical volume, the expansion of outpatient surgery centers, and the increased complexity of surgical procedures. The job is projected to remain a top-quartile healthcare role for employment stability through 2034 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2026).
Strengths: stable employment growth, the option to specialize in higher-paying surgical services, geographic mobility, and the option to advance into management, education, or vendor roles. Weaknesses: shift work including nights, weekends, and holidays is common; the work involves exposure to bloodborne pathogens and surgical smoke; and the pay ceiling without management or specialization is around $85,000. The right pick for new graduates is to get the CST credential within 1 year of graduation, then specialize in cardiac, neuro, or transplant within 2 years, because specialty surgical techs earn 10% to 25% more than general surgical techs at every experience level.
How to maximize your surgical tech salary in 2026
To maximize your surgical tech salary in 2026, the right move is to combine four levers: (1) earn the CST credential within 1 year of graduation; (2) specialize in cardiac, neuro, or transplant surgery within 2 years, because specialty surgical techs earn 10% to 25% more than general surgical techs; (3) target California, New York, Nevada, Washington, or Oregon, where the salary is 25% to 50% above the national median; and (4) negotiate aggressively on sign-on bonus and on-call differential, because the spread on offers for the same role can be 15% to 25%. The right pick for new graduates is to start at a level 1 or level 2 trauma center to get the strongest clinical experience, then transition to a specialty or a travel contract after 2 to 3 years.
Strengths: multiple paths to higher pay (specialty, geography, employer, credential). Weaknesses: requires 2 to 4 years of focused effort to reach the senior pay band. The right pick for a fast path to six figures is to specialize in cardiac or neuro, then target California or a Kaiser Permanente role, because the combination adds $20,000 to $30,000 per year over a staff general surgical tech role in a low-cost state.
Photo: NASA/Kim Shiflett, Public Domain (NASA), via NASA Image and Video Library (https://images.nasa.gov/details/KSC-20180221-PH_KLS01_0098)
