Show me the money...

What are typical surgical technician salaries? Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

It's all about experience and what you have to offer them. Generally surgery centers and heart team members seem to make more money. It takes alot to get into smaller surgery centers or specialty centers, you just have to put your time in. In Oklahoma the ranges are from $13 to $20 hr. With time in you can even make way above these figures.

In san francisco starting pay was between $25-$29, in santa rosa (about one and a half hours north) it is $22-$25. I currently make $28.81 and hour with 8 years of experience with my specialty in orthopedics. You also have to look at the "on call" reimbursement the hospital is willing to pay. One hospital I was looking to apply at in paid $3.35 an hour for being on call. The hospital I work at now pays half of your normal hourly wage (for me that’s $14.41 and hour) for every hour your on call. That adds when I normally take between 70 and 132 hours of call per pay check.

Cristie, I'd like to know what types of surgeries do you assist in and have you ever worked for an agency?

Host said: What are typical surgical technician salaries? Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

please tell me the hourly rate for a surgical tech

Kathy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma said: It's all about experience and what you have to offer them. Generally surgery centers and heart team members seem to make more money. It takes alot to get into smaller surgery centers or specialty centers, you just have to put your time in. In Oklahoma the ranges are from $13 to $20 hr. With time in you can even make way above these figures.

minnesota top pay here is 8.00- 10.00 an hour.

Host said: What are typical surgical technician salaries? Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

Get on the internet and do some research, as it varies greatly according to location. In the Portland OR area, it's $15-16 hr.

Surgical tech. is a very limeted field, you mainly set up,hand instruments, gather up the instruments after surgery and scrub docs and nurses in. There's a lot of standing around doing nothing in the meantime. Skills that are hardly expandable. Although you can, with experience and further education, go on to first assist, which pays better. You want money and more opportunity, go into nursing, not surg. tech.

I have been a surgical technologist for over 15 years and my current wage is 27.95 per hour, excluding call. When you total in the call pay, I average over 56,000.00 a year. I know of RN's that are making less and have more experience that I do. Hope that this has been helpful.

I live in Central PA and I went to College for one yr. Got a certificate, got a job and now I am on the Cardiac team and make almost 19/hr plus 4 dollars an hour to be on call. So far this yr I have made almost 8k just taking call!!!! Your not going to get out of college and make 60k,70k,80k, etc a yr!!! You need to work your way up. I started at 9.90ish in 2001. I am currently going to school through NIFA(www.surgicalassisting.com) to get my certificate in First Assisting, also I am learning to harvest vein for the heart bypass's. It is a lot of work but I am loving it so far!!! I have an idea of my raise but have not recieved an official amount yet. All I know is I'll be making about 10-15k more a yr. If you wanna make 80-150k a yr right out of school become a lawyer, PA, etc. I have a descent house, which I plan on buying/building in 6-10 yrs from now b/c we will be outgrowing this one. So you can make out pretty good in this profession!!

who is a frist assist

yatu in Brookhaven, Pennsylvania said: who is a frist assist

The first assistant stands across from the surgeon at the operating room table and helps them do surgery. You hold tissue, retract, provide hemostasis, etc. Also you can close the incision.

In Knoxville, TN, the salary, depending upon experience and specialization, is between $13.00/hr and $18.00/hr.

Just curious...How much more would your wage increase if you become a first assistant?

Depends where your from, schooling, experience, if you work for surgeon, or hospital, etc. I work for a hospital and I am hoping to get a 5-8 dollar/hr increase from 19/hr that I make now.

cplank in Williamsport, Pennsylvania said: Depends where your from, schooling, experience, if you work for surgeon, or hospital, etc. I work for a hospital and I am hoping to get a 5-8 dollar/hr increase from 19/hr that I make now.

that's not bad...and if you get on-calls too.

In your opinion was the ST's coursework diffcult? I'm trying to gauage the diffuculities of the program.

I typed this long post and it said that I am not allowed to advertise, have vulgar language or personal attacks. I didn't have any of that. Just email me and I will send you the info.
cplank00@verizon.net

I am trying to find a good surgical tech program. Can you tell me of one in the knoxville area.

I work in NYU medical center, with almost 2 years experience i made a little over 60k this year. I average about 48 hours a week. Pay is decent but unfortunatly you cannot first asisst as a tech in New York state.

was the course work hard, would you say it was worth it I think I am going to do this while I wait to get into the nursing program. A little experience under my belt will help. I am currently working at a hospital as a CNA. What do you think?

hello - i am thinking of becoming a surg tech here in boston - been in healthcare for over 11 yrs - i just don't want to go backward according to pay - do you actually make more being on-call?? what is the average salary for some1 in boston, does any1 know? thanks!

Do you know the salary average on Long Island
as a sugical tech.

mike in Brooklyn, New York said: I work in NYU medical center, with almost 2 years experience i made a little over 60k this year. I average about 48 hours a week. Pay is decent but unfortunatly you cannot first asisst as a tech in New York state.

Mike do you know what the salary average is for Long Island

surgicaltechwannatobe in Hempstead, New York said: Mike do you know what the salary average is for Long Island

I dont know the average, but a friend of mine works in LIJ i believe and the start for him was 42 or 44k.

I am thinking about going to school as surg tech after i get out of the AF. I've been looking into some of the courses that are in the school. Are they pretty difficult? I know school is no walk the park, esspecially when it comes to the medical field. I've already been consulting with General Surgery on base and i'm trying to get a shaddow spot during a few surgeries to see what it's really like before I get myself in too, and to see if this is what i really want to do. This line work seems like it'd pretty fun, up-beat, and rewarding thats why i'd like to do it. If you guys have any info i'd like to get some.
Thanks

mike in Brooklyn, New York said: I dont know the average, but a friend of mine works in LIJ i believe and the start for him was 42 or 44k.

Thanks for the info. I am going to Nassau CC
and I just wanted to know what was your beginning salary?

mike in Brooklyn, New York said: I work in NYU medical center, with almost 2 years experience i made a little over 60k this year. I average about 48 hours a week. Pay is decent but unfortunatly you cannot first asisst as a tech in New York state.

Hello Mike, is that 60k as a Surgical Tech? Base pay or on call included?
I work in Central Sterile Dept.
Thanks

I'm going to BHCC for surgecal technology program in boston,but i don't know how much i will get pay in my first year. anyone have information? thanks

My first job payed me $18 an hour in a private surgery center. This past year I made over $42k working part-time, no weekends and no call.

Jason in Rockville Centre, New York said: Hello Mike, is that 60k as a Surgical Tech? Base pay or on call included?
I work in Central Sterile Dept.
Thanks

Base is 48k and i average about 8 hours of ovetime/call a week. So all together with ot a little over 60.

mike in Brooklyn, New York said: Base is 48k and i average about 8 hours of ovetime/call a week. So all together with ot a little over 60.

You started out at 48K?

I am in school now to be a Surg Tech. I will be done by late July and soon after start my 300 hour Externship. I live in NJ so I have alot of places I can choose to go (philly, nyc all of jersey ect.) But I was wondering if anyone knows if I can work for a Vet.? I have no idea where or what feild I want to work lol. Preety sure I don't want to do Labor and Delivery. I know NJ pays good to start (mostly around $20 an hour adverage). But does anyone know what the shifts are like? My Instructor did for 17 years 12 hours a day 3 days a week. Is this basicly the shifts? Also, does anyone have any sugestions for starting out as far as working in a hospital, or sugery center, or for a Dentist ect? Any help would be greatful!

I am about to start my externship here in houston for my ST program. I see the person above me has a 300hr externship. Mine is 640hours total of externship. WHy does it vary so much? I know houston has some of the best trauma centers in the world. Can anyone tell me what they make if they live here in Houston? Also to the man who is in first assisting. I've read alot about that, but want to kno the preresequites for starting education in that field. Thanks for any help!

I believe the minimum amount of clinical hours necessary for all CAHHEP accredited programs is 540 hours.

Isaac in Houston, Texas said: I am about to start my externship here in houston for my ST program. I see the person above me has a 300hr externship. Mine is 640hours total of externship. WHy does it vary so much? I know houston has some of the best trauma centers in the world. Can anyone tell me what they make if they live here in Houston? Also to the man who is in first assisting. I've read alot about that, but want to kno the preresequites for starting education in that field. Thanks for any help!

i'm a ST at a level II traumua hospital in corpus christi with 2yrs exp. i am looking at for employment in major cities in texas because the pay here is well below the state and national average. what do you expect to earn as a new grad?

I dunno, i was hoping to get hired at Ben Taub or something like that starting around 18$ an hour, considering i'm the #1 prospect in my graduating class.

This is a hot topic!!! I just got my raise here last month for being in the FA and I am now at 23/hr. I have been in this profession for almost 10yrs now. I also get 4/hr on call which I am on call every other weekend and 2-4 days during the week.
Issac don't go tooting your horn to much. Being #1 in your class don't mean everything when looking/getting a job!!

Well, i know being #1 doesn't always mean to much. But I've been reading comments from people not being able to get a job or complaining about the high tuition costs. My clinical coordinator already said she wants to put me on an unsupervised clinical location. Usually 1 or 2 students a year get that recommendation. The last girl they did this with who also was on the president's list not only got offered a job within 4 weeks of her clinicals, but they also paid off her 22,000$ tuition.

Hey my name is rene.
I'm trying to do some research for a new union contract in michigan. Our starting pay is 13-17 dollars. Our top dollar is 22.57 Then after a year a 1.50 raise. The evening diff. 75 cents and night diff. 1.00. weekend is 85 cents. the stand by call rate is 3.50 with a 2 hour min. No instructor pay. we also have mandated pay . Meaning if we have to stay over our shift and it is more then a hour it is double time.
The hospital is a trauma 1 with 19 main or and 6 outpatient ors. weekend rotation of 1 every 6th.
I'm doing this because I feel that we are under paid and a call rate of 3.50 is a joke. My time is worth more then that. We are a lot less then the nurses. We also have only 5 nurses that can scrub. I'm just looking for advise.
RV

wow!!! 22k for tuition!!! That is nuts. I went to college in the fall of 98 and graduated in Aug. of 99!! I only had a 5500 dollar tuition bill and my employer paid that off in 2000 and I signed a 2 yr contract so I wouldn't leave to go somewhere else to work!! It took me a yr to get a job b/c there were no positions in the hospital I wanted to work. I didn't wanna leave the area!!
When I went to school the college was getting rid of the program b/c they weren't getting enough students to keep the program so I finished my program with a certificate. I wasn't going to make more money going for 2 yrs so I figured why should I fork out the money to the college. So I had 26 credits my first semester and 22 the second.
I was not in the top of my class but I was in the middle of about 15 students and I got a job just as quick if not quicker than the ones in the top of my class.

RV!! 3.50/hr for call is actually pretty good!! I have heard of 6/hr but that is in big cities. I make 4/hr for the cardiac team and the regular OR is 2/hr. I just found out that my new position cap is 32.75/hr!!! It will be like 10 yrs or so if I understood it right but that is a great rate for having 1 yr of college and now this course. Good luck on ur research and hope things work out!!

Isaac in Atlanta, Georgia said: Well, i know being #1 doesn't always mean to much. But I've been reading comments from people not being able to get a job or complaining about the high tuition costs. My clinical coordinator already said she wants to put me on an unsupervised clinical location. Usually 1 or 2 students a year get that recommendation. The last girl they did this with who also was on the president's list not only got offered a job within 4 weeks of her clinicals, but they also paid off her 22,000$ tuition.

I was in an unsupervised externship spot. That is a great feeing, but it doesn't amount to squat if you don't get hired at that hospital.

cplank in Williamsport, Pennsylvania said: wow!!! 22k for tuition!!! That is nuts. I went to college in the fall of 98 and graduated in Aug. of 99!! I only had a 5500 dollar tuition bill and my employer paid that off in 2000 and I signed a 2 yr contract so I wouldn't leave to go somewhere else to work!! It took me a yr to get a job b/c there were no positions in the hospital I wanted to work. I didn't wanna leave the area!!
When I went to school the college was getting rid of the program b/c they weren't getting enough students to keep the program so I finished my program with a certificate. I wasn't going to make more money going for 2 yrs so I figured why should I fork out the money to the college. So I had 26 credits my first semester and 22 the second.
I was not in the top of my class but I was in the middle of about 15 students and I got a job just as quick if not quicker than the ones in the top of my class.

RV!! 3.50/hr for call is actually pretty good!! I have heard of 6/hr but that is in big cities. I make 4/hr for the cardiac team and the regular OR is 2/hr. I just found out that my new position cap is 32.75/hr!!! It will be like 10 yrs or so if I understood it right but that is a great rate for having 1 yr of college and now this course. Good luck on ur research and hope things work out!!

cplank, my tuition was also $22000. I went to a for-profit school, Sanford Brown Inst in Ft. Lauderdale FL, and that is what they did, profited off the students. There was a state-run program, but it has a year waiting list. When my epiphany hit and I wanted to change careers, it did not line up with their start schedule. So $22000 later.... Oh yeah, did I mention I can't get a job?

Maury in Lawrenceville, Georgia said: cplank, my tuition was also $22000. I went to a for-profit school, Sanford Brown Inst in Ft. Lauderdale FL, and that is what they did, profited off the students. There was a state-run program, but it has a year waiting list. When my epiphany hit and I wanted to change careers, it did not line up with their start schedule. So $22000 later.... Oh yeah, did I mention I can't get a job?

Maury, out of how many total students go out on supervised extern sites? If its anymore than 2-5% then don't compare that to what i was trying to say. Anyone can and will definitely get hired if they seperate themselves from the group. Im sorry to hear you feel like you're out of 22k, and i did a quick search from AST.org to see if you're school was accredited and it was. While doing this search I also found that the school "sanford brown" as a whole, and not any one individual campus has an alarming amount of official complaints and lawsuits against them. That could very well be a reason for your current misfortune.

Isaac in Houston, Texas said: Maury, out of how many total students go out on supervised extern sites? If its anymore than 2-5% then don't compare that to what i was trying to say. Anyone can and will definitely get hired if they seperate themselves from the group. Im sorry to hear you feel like you're out of 22k, and i did a quick search from AST.org to see if you're school was accredited and it was. While doing this search I also found that the school "sanford brown" as a whole, and not any one individual campus has an alarming amount of official complaints and lawsuits against them. That could very well be a reason for your current misfortune.

Hey Isaac, only the best and brightest classroom students were placed at site with no preceptor. There were not hiring at that particular hospital but the nurse manager did call a sister hospital and got me an in. If I didn't relocate, I would probably be scrubbing at that facility in FL. Thanks for your research. I am not surprised at the number of complaints and lawsuits.

Hey Maury or Anyone, I'm considering going to Brown Mackie College in Dunwoody, GA for surgical tech. it's $208 per credit hr. Do you know anything about the school?

Host said: What are typical surgical technician salaries? Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

Your best bet is to get alot of experiance in one speacialty. go private.more money working for a group of surgeons.

Host said: What are typical surgical technician salaries? Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

The salaries vary based on states. For travel techs the wage can be $14-25 depending on the state, Hi pays about $14 per hour- but free private housing comes along with that! Kim

I have to some what disagree w/ Ben! Where I live it is more money working for the hospital. I do work mainly on the cardiac team so to work in one specialty that will get you more money. Also become a first assistant. Where I work you get $2 more an hour to be a first assistant. Also learn to tie, suture, etc. That will get you more money. I pulled in just over 50K this yr and that is w/ me becoming an FA on the Cardiac team. Also I got the raise near the end of the yr. Not bad for a yr of college and this FA course I am taking.

I've been a surgical tech coming on 4 years now and i work in maryland. I make 21.12. I love doing what i do but isn't it a shame how we make less than an o.r. nurse. The only difference between us is the fact that they have license. With all that we do the standing, knowing what to have up on the field and the mayo, anticapating and remembering all the different cases and the special things that each doctors like. It's alot of work but we are so under payed. I'm really considering going into nursing or some other field.

You would make a great OR RN because you will be able to scrub and cirrulate. You have great things to look forward to and double pay.

i am going to sandford brown in houston right now. how did you hear about the lawsuits and the complaints?