Surgical Technician Salary

The healthcare field has the reputation of being recession-proof and having lucrative financial rewards. This is because healthcare will always be a need of the general public from all walks of life and no matter what the economic situation is. The same can be said for the surgical technology career, and it is among the many reasons why there have been an increasing number of individuals looking to become a surgical technician. So let’s cut to the chase and answer one of the most asked questions is this career – How much should you expect when it comes to surgical technician salary?

In order to give you an idea of just how much a surgical technician actually earns, we will be looking at the statistical data provided in the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website about the surgical technology career. During May of 2008, the statistics from the BLS revealed the average salary for surgical technicians was $38,740 annually. The figures for the middle 50 percent of the population were somewhere between $32,490 and $46,910. On the other hand, the lowest and highest earners of the pack were earning more or less $27,510 and $54,300 respectively. The BLS statistics also revealed that the industries paying the highest for this occupation were specialty hospitals and outpatient care centers.

It is important to understand that, like any other occupation, surgical technician salary can be affected by a number of factors, the most important being educational background and working experience. Most employers nowadays usually show preference for individuals who have completed a training program that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP), especially those who have spent longer training times. Surgical technicians who have completed an accredited Associate’s degree program will usually have higher salary thresholds as compared to those who completed certificate or diploma programs. Also, those who have specialized in a particular field in surgery such as gynecological surgery and neurosurgery will have higher pay as well.

Working experience also has a significant influence on the salary range a surgical technician is capable of receiving. As you are in the early stages of your career, you can expect to receive lower salary thresholds as compared to those who have spent 5 or more years in their job. If you really want to achieve the highest salary thresholds, then applying for certification can prove to be very helpful. Certification in this field requires successful completion of a certification exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assistants (NBSTSA).

The geographical location of your workplace can also affect the range of your salary. You can expect higher pay if you work in urban areas with higher cost of living as compared to small rural communities. Other important factors affecting surgical technician salary is the nature of your duties and your responsibilities and the number of working hours. Besides surgical technician salary, you can also expect to receive other benefits such as medical and dental reimbursement, vacation leave, sick leave, and retirement benefits as well.