A surgical technologist salary calculator converts surgical tech pay between hourly, weekly, biweekly, monthly and annual amounts, then compares it with official wage data. Surgical technologists in the United States had a median wage of $31.08 an hour, or $64,650 a year, in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Annual gross pay
Calculations run in your browser. Inputs are not sent to our servers; anything you Save stays in this browser only.
Saved results (0)
How to Use the Surgical Technologist Salary Calculator
- Choose hourly rate or annual salary. Most surgical technologists are paid by the hour.
- Enter your base pay, your hours per week and your weeks per year. Add other annual pay or a second offer if you have them.
- Read your annual gross pay, the pay-period amounts and where your hourly pay sits in the BLS wage table.
What each result tells you:
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| Annual gross pay | Base pay for the year plus any other annual pay you entered, before tax. |
| Monthly, biweekly, weekly | Annual gross pay divided by 12, 26 and 52. |
| Hourly | Base pay per paid hour. This is the number compared with BLS. |
| BLS percentile band | The two published BLS percentiles your hourly pay falls between. |
| Approximate percentile | A straight-line estimate between those two percentiles. BLS does not publish it. |
| Gap to BLS median | Your hourly pay minus the BLS median hourly wage, in dollars and percent. |
| Full-time equivalent | Your hourly pay times 2,080 hours, the work year BLS uses for annual wages. |
| Second offer rows | The second offer as annual and hourly pay, its percentile and the yearly difference. |
The first preset is an example, not a typical wage. It shows a surgical technologist paid $30.00 an hour for 40 hours a week. That is $62,400.00 a year, about the 44th percentile.
What Is a Surgical Technologist Salary?
A surgical technologist salary is the gross pay a surgical technologist earns in a year, before tax and deductions. BLS tracks the job under occupation code 29-2055.
BLS says surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment and help doctors and first assistants during surgeries. They work under surgeons, registered nurses or other surgical staff.
Surgical assistants are a different occupation with their own code, 29-9093. Their wages are not part of this tool.
| Fact | Value (BLS) |
|---|---|
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award. A certificate or an associate degree from an accredited program. |
| Certification | Employers may require or prefer it. Some states regulate the work. |
| Jobs in 2025 | 118,400 |
| Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | 5%, faster than the 3% average for all occupations |
| Largest employer | Hospitals, with 71% of jobs |
| Work schedule | Most work full time. Hospital staff may be on call nights, weekends and holidays. Shifts can run longer than 8 hours. |
These facts come from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, read on 2026-10-02. The handbook covers surgical assistants and technologists on one page. It projects about 8,600 openings a year for the two jobs together.
This tool is for surgical technologists and students checking an offer, a raise or a call schedule. It is not a pay quote from any employer.
How Does the Surgical Technologist Salary Calculator Work?
The calculator converts your pay between time periods, then places your hourly pay in the BLS wage distribution for surgical technologists.
Annual pay = hourly rate x hours per week x weeks per yearApproximate percentile = P1 + (your hourly - W1) / (W2 - W1) x (P2 - P1)- Convert. An hourly rate is multiplied by hours and weeks. A salary is divided by them to get pay per hour.
- Add other pay. Overtime, differentials and bonuses you typed are added to the annual total only.
- Find the band. Your base hourly pay is checked against the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile wages.
- Interpolate. W1 and W2 are the two BLS wages around your pay. P1 and P2 are their percentiles.
- Measure the gap. Your hourly pay minus the median, then divided by the median.
The table below is the full BLS wage table for surgical technologists that the tool uses.
| Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055) | Hourly wage | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $22.09 | $45,940 |
| 25th percentile | $26.29 | $54,690 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $31.08 | $64,650 |
| 75th percentile | $38.34 | $79,750 |
| 90th percentile | $46.61 | $96,940 |
| Mean (average) | $33.03 | $68,710 |
| Employment | 117,460 jobs | |
Source: BLS OEWS, national estimates, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
BLS annual wages equal the hourly wage times 2,080 hours. That is 40 hours for 52 weeks. The comparison uses hourly pay so that part-time and long-shift schedules are judged fairly.
Surgical Technologist Salary Example: Base Pay Plus Call Pay
A hospital surgical technologist earns $29.50 an hour for 40 hours a week. Call pay and call-back hours added $4,800 last year. A surgery center offers $33.00 an hour with no call.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Base annual pay | 29.50 x 40 x 52 | $61,360.00 |
| Annual gross pay | 61,360.00 + 4,800.00 | $66,160.00 |
| Monthly | 66,160.00 / 12 | $5,513.33 |
| Biweekly | 66,160.00 / 26 | $2,544.62 |
| BLS band | 29.50 is between 26.29 and 31.08 | 25th to 50th percentile |
| Approximate percentile | 25 + (29.50 - 26.29) / (31.08 - 26.29) x 25 | About the 42nd |
| Gap to median | 29.50 - 31.08 | -$1.58 an hour (-5.1%) |
| Full-time equivalent | 29.50 x 2,080 | $61,360.00 |
| Second offer | 33.00 x 40 x 52 | $68,640.00, +$7,280.00 a year |
| Second offer percentile | Same method on 33.00 | About the 57th |
The surgery center pays $7,280.00 more in base pay. That is more than the $4,800 of call pay she would give up, so her gross pay rises by $2,480.00. Her rate moves from about the 42nd to about the 57th percentile.
Factors That Change Surgical Technologist Pay
Work Setting
Hospitals employ 71% of surgical technologists. Median pay is almost the same in hospitals, outpatient care centers and physician offices. Dental offices pay much less.
| Employer type | Share of jobs, 2025 | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 71% | $65,020 |
| Offices of physicians | 11% | $64,590 |
| Outpatient care centers | 10% | $64,670 |
| Administrative and support services | 4% | $62,400 |
| Offices of dentists | 2% | $48,190 |
Largest employers of surgical technologists and their median wages. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wages. Read on 2026-10-02.
BLS counts ambulatory surgical centers inside outpatient care centers.
State
Massachusetts has the highest annual mean wage for surgical technologists at $83,820. That is $15,110 above the national mean.
| State | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $83,820 |
| California | $82,810 |
| New York | $81,990 |
| Oregon | $80,990 |
| Alaska | $79,670 |
The five states with the highest annual mean wage for surgical technologists. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
Metro Area
All five of the highest-paying areas are in California. San Jose leads at $105,420, which is above the national 90th percentile of $96,940.
| Metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $105,420 |
| Vallejo, CA | $103,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $96,990 |
| Napa, CA | $96,920 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $95,450 |
The five areas with the highest annual mean wage for surgical technologists. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
Call Pay and Overtime
BLS wages are straight-time pay. They exclude overtime pay and shift differentials. Keep call pay and overtime in the other annual pay field. The overtime pay calculator works out overtime from your hours.
Paid Hours
Long cases and call-backs change weekly hours. Enter your scheduled hours as the base, and add the rest as other pay. The salary to hourly calculator does the same conversion without the BLS comparison.
Certification, Specialty and Experience
BLS publishes one wage table for all surgical technologists. It has no separate figures by certification, surgical specialty or years of experience. This page does not estimate a premium for any of them.
Surgical Technologist Pay Compared Across Industries
Other ambulatory health care services pay surgical technologists the highest mean wage, $82,130 a year. That is $13,420 above the national mean of $68,710.
| Industry | Annual mean wage | Versus national mean |
|---|---|---|
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $82,130 | +$13,420 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $81,200 | +$12,490 |
| Office Administrative Services | $79,020 | +$10,310 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $77,270 | +$8,560 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $75,540 | +$6,830 |
The five industries with the highest annual mean wage for surgical technologists. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
The top three industries are small employers of surgical technologists. BLS reports a relative standard error of 6.8% to 10.0% for them, so these three means are less precise than the national figures.
Surgical Technologists vs Surgical Assistants
Surgical assistants earn slightly more at the median. Their pay range is wider at both ends.
| Occupation (BLS code) | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical technologists (29-2055) | $45,940 | $64,650 | $96,940 |
| Surgical assistants (29-9093) | $39,690 | $66,800 | $107,610 |
Annual wages. Source: BLS OEWS and Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
Mean vs Median
The mean annual wage is $68,710 and the median is $64,650. The mean is $4,060 higher, because wages stretch further above the median than below it.
When to Use the Surgical Technologist Salary Calculator
Weighing a Hospital Job Against a Surgery Center
Enter the hospital rate as base pay and its call pay as other annual pay. Enter the surgery center rate as the second offer. The tool shows the base pay difference to set against the call pay.
Checking a First Job Offer
An offer of $24.00 an hour falls between the 10th percentile of $22.09 and the 25th percentile of $26.29. The tool shows that position in one step.
Pricing a Travel or Agency Contract
Enter only the taxable hourly rate as base pay. Housing and meal payments are not wages, so they stay out of the comparison.
Budgeting After Tax
The result is gross pay. Read the gross vs net income guide and the tax brackets guide before you plan a budget from it.
Common Mistakes with Surgical Technologist Pay Comparisons
1. Counting Call Pay as Base Pay
Call pay depends on the schedule, not the wage rate. Adding it to base pay inflates your percentile.
2. Mixing Up Technologists and Assistants
Surgical assistants have a separate BLS code and a median of $66,800. This tool compares your pay with surgical technologists only.
3. Reading the National Figure as a Local Rate
The mean in Massachusetts is $83,820 against $68,710 nationally. The percentile on this page uses national data only.
4. Comparing the Mean with the Median
The mean is $4,060 above the median. An offer equal to the mean is above the middle of the wage range.
5. Expecting a Specialty Multiplier
BLS does not publish wages by surgical specialty. A tool that multiplies pay by a specialty factor is not using BLS data.
Accuracy and Limitations
The conversion is exact arithmetic. The percentile is an estimate, because BLS publishes only five points of the wage distribution.
What it calculates accurately
- Annual, monthly, biweekly, weekly and hourly gross pay from your own figures.
- The BLS percentile band your hourly pay falls in.
- The dollar and percent gap to the BLS national median.
- The yearly difference between two offers on the same schedule.
What it does not account for
- Federal, state and local tax, or any payroll deduction.
- Your state, metro area, employer, experience or specialty.
- Benefits such as health insurance, retirement match and paid leave.
- Wages after May 2025. BLS updates the survey once a year.
- Certification, specialty and experience premiums. The old tool on this page used invented multipliers for them.
BLS wages are straight-time gross pay. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. Keep those in the other annual pay field so the comparison stays like for like.
How We Calculate Surgical Technologist Pay and Percentiles
Frequently Asked Questions About Surgical Technologist Salaries
How much do surgical technologists make an hour?
Surgical technologists had a median hourly wage of $31.08 in May 2025, according to BLS. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22.09 an hour and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46.61.
What is the median surgical technologist salary?
The median annual wage for surgical technologists was $64,650 in May 2025. Half earned more than that and half earned less. The mean was $68,710.
What do the highest paid surgical technologists earn?
Surgical technologists at the 90th percentile earned $96,940 a year in May 2025. Those at the 75th percentile earned $79,750.
What is a low salary for a surgical technologist?
A wage below $45,940 a year, or $22.09 an hour, is in the lowest 10 percent nationally. The 25th percentile is $54,690.
Which state pays surgical technologists the most?
Massachusetts pays the highest annual mean wage, $83,820. California, New York, Oregon and Alaska are the next four.
Do surgery centers pay more than hospitals?
Not at the median. Surgical technologists in outpatient care centers earned a median of $64,670 in May 2025. Those in hospitals earned $65,020.
Is a surgical technologist the same as a surgical assistant?
No. BLS lists surgical assistants under code 29-9093 and surgical technologists under 29-2055. Surgical assistants help with tasks such as making incisions and closing surgical sites.
How many surgical technologists work in the United States?
BLS counted 117,460 surgical technologist jobs in its May 2025 wage survey. Its projections program lists 118,400 jobs in 2025.
Do BLS wages include call pay and overtime?
BLS wages are straight-time gross pay. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. Enter call pay and overtime in the other annual pay field.
Is my pay information saved?
No. The calculation runs in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server. The Save button stores a result only on your own device.
Sources
- BLS OEWS Profiles, May 2025 national estimates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Select 29-2055 Surgical Technologists. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Surgical Assistants and Technologists (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Duties, education, employers, surgical assistant wages and 2025 to 2035 outlook. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS technical notes for the May 2025 OEWS estimates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Defines the wage: straight-time gross pay, 2,080-hour year. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS May 2025 occupation profiles index (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Lists every occupation code in the May 2025 release. Read 2026-10-02.)
Related Calculators
Compare pay for other occupations.
Explore all career calculatorsThis surgical technologist salary calculator gives an estimate for planning. It uses BLS survey data, not a pay offer, and it is not financial, tax or career advice. BLS figures are national estimates for May 2025, read on 2026-10-02. All amounts are gross pay before tax. Confirm pay with the employer before you decide. Spotted an error? Let us know.
Author
Shakeel Muzaffar is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of MultiCalculators.com, bringing over 15 years of experience in digital publishing, product strategy, and online tool development. He leads the platform's editorial vision, ensuring every calculator meets strict standards for accuracy, usability, and real-world value. Shakeel personally oversees content quality, formula verification workflows, and the platform's commitment to publishing tools that are genuinely useful for students, professionals, and everyday users worldwide.
