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Surgical Technology Statistics
According to the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of
Labor Statistics’s 2006-2007
Occupational Outlook Handbook, there were approximately 84,000
surgical technologist jobs in the United States in 2004. Because
of the increased number of expected surgeries, the number of jobs
in surgical technology is expected to grow faster than average through
2012.
The median annual income of these individuals in 2004 was $34,010,
with the median 50% earning $28,560 to $40,750 annually.
Average Hourly Pay Rate of AST Members by State
Click on the map for a full-screen, printable version.
Certification Pays
In results published in the 2002 Job Analysis Report by the National
Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA, formerly
LCC-ST), 46% of Certified Surgical Technologists (CSTs) and 52%
of Certified First Assistants (CFAs) reported that employers compensated
them for maintaining their credential. An increasing number of
employers are compensating employees for certification.
More proof of the value of certification was evidenced in an
online survey of surgical technologists conducted by NBSTSA. Hourly
wage differences between certified vs noncertified staff ranged
from a low of 50 cents per hour to a high of $5 or more for earning
the credential.
Most frequently, CSTs earned $1-$1.99 per hour in increased wages.
At this rate, the CST has the potential to earn a minimum of $2,000
annually over that of their noncertified team members.
The most striking difference in wages occurred in 16.9% of the
participants who earned $5 per hour more than their peers who
didn’t bother to become a CST – that’s $10,000
each year for earning and maintaining their credential!
For more information on certification, visit the NBSTSA web site.
Hourly Wage Difference for Certified Surgical Technologists
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