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Scrub technician vs surgical scrub technician

The differences between scrub technicians and surgical scrub technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a scrub technician and a surgical scrub technician. Additionally, a surgical scrub technician has an average salary of $52,701, which is higher than the $38,718 average annual salary of a scrub technician.

The top three skills for a scrub technician include patients, BLS and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a surgical scrub technician are patients, surgical procedures, and CPR.

Scrub technician vs surgical scrub technician overview

Scrub TechnicianSurgical Scrub Technician
Yearly salary$38,718$52,701
Hourly rate$18.61$25.34
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs71,22040,168
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 43%Associate Degree, 40%
Average age4141
Years of experience1212

What does a scrub technician do?

Scrub technicians are surgical technologists who are responsible for assisting surgeons and the surgical team in the operating room. These technicians must set out and sterilize the necessary instruments while helping each member of the surgical team put on their gloves and gowns during a surgical procedure. They are required to pass instruments, sponges, and dressings to the surgeon throughout the procedure. Scrub technicians must also ensure that the operating room and reusable instruments are clean before and after each surgery.

What does a surgical scrub technician do?

A surgical Scrub Technician can be referred to as a doctor because he/she is a committed technician who does multiple tasks like providing the surgeon with nice instruments for surgery. They provide sterile instruments to the surgeon, prepare the operating table, sterilize the instruments, and make the room neat and clean.

Scrub technician vs surgical scrub technician salary

Scrub technicians and surgical scrub technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Scrub TechnicianSurgical Scrub Technician
Average salary$38,718$52,701
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $49,000Between $35,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CityWhite Plains, NY-
Highest paying stateOregon-
Best paying companyLawrence General Hospital-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between scrub technician and surgical scrub technician education

There are a few differences between a scrub technician and a surgical scrub technician in terms of educational background:

Scrub TechnicianSurgical Scrub Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 43%Associate Degree, 40%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut

Scrub technician vs surgical scrub technician demographics

Here are the differences between scrub technicians' and surgical scrub technicians' demographics:

Scrub TechnicianSurgical Scrub Technician
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 20.5% Female, 79.5%Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 4.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 4.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between scrub technician and surgical scrub technician duties and responsibilities

Scrub technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage sterilization of field during surgical procedures, ensuring cleanliness and sanitation meet organization protocol.
  • Perform EKG's, blood draws (PKUs) and bed baths.
  • Administer medications, perform EKG, venipuncture, and dressing changes.
  • Observe, ensure and provide sterility, safety and preventative measures of OSHA and other mandate regulations at each command.
  • Collaborate in a safe, efficient transfer of the patient from the operating room to PACU, ICU, and CCU.
  • Admit patients onto unit; gather and submit patient financial information.
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Surgical scrub technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage sterilization of field during surgical procedures, ensuring cleanliness and sanitation meet organization protocol.
  • Clamp, ligation and cutting of tissue per surgeon's directive.
  • Pass instruments, sponges, sutures, and needles to surgeons and their assistants.
  • Communicate patient status to other units including PACU, ICU, and blood bank.
  • Remain flexible to float into the PACU, same day surgery, prep room, and GI as needed.
  • Act as liaison between technical staff, anesthesia residents, MD's, CRNA's, and hospital management.
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Scrub technician vs surgical scrub technician skills

Common scrub technician skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 12%
  • Surgical Procedures, 8%
  • Aseptic Technique, 7%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Infection Control, 6%
Common surgical scrub technician skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Surgical Procedures, 14%
  • CPR, 12%
  • HIPAA, 8%
  • Surgical Equipment, 8%
  • Surgical Scrub, 6%

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