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Surgery technician vs surgical technician

The differences between surgery technicians and surgical 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 surgery technician and a surgical technician. Additionally, a surgical technician has an average salary of $52,193, which is higher than the $41,646 average annual salary of a surgery technician.

The top three skills for a surgery technician include patients, patient care and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a surgical technician are patients, surgical technologist, and surgical procedures.

Surgery technician vs surgical technician overview

Surgery TechnicianSurgical Technician
Yearly salary$41,646$52,193
Hourly rate$20.02$25.09
Growth rate20%6%
Number of jobs83,37670,920
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%Associate Degree, 49%
Average age3241
Years of experience1212

What does a surgery technician do?

A surgery technician plays a vital role in the success of medical surgeries. They are primarily in charge of performing essential support tasks such as sanitizing and preparing operating rooms, setting-up equipment, sterilizing instruments, and ensuring that supplies are accurate and adequate. They also prepare patients before surgeries, assist surgeons by handing out supplies or tools, and participate in transporting the patients from one room to another. Moreover, they must maintain an active communication line with nurses and surgeons, coordinating every step of the way.

What does a surgical technician do?

A Surgical Technician is an essential member of a medical operating team. They serve as an additional hand of a surgeon. Surgical Technicians have the vital responsibility of assisting surgeons during operations, such as passing and providing instruments and tools such as Graspers, Clasps, Suction, and more. Furthermore, Surgical Technicians are also responsible for preparing all of the required surgical devices and instruments, making sure they are all up to the standards of hospital and medical regulations. And post-surgery, their duties include applying bandages to a patient and even cleaning the operating room.

Surgery technician vs surgical technician salary

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

Surgery TechnicianSurgical Technician
Average salary$41,646$52,193
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $55,000Between $35,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-St. Tammany Health System
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between surgery technician and surgical technician education

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

Surgery TechnicianSurgical Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%Associate Degree, 49%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesMedical Technician
Most common collegeEmory UniversityUniversity of Connecticut

Surgery technician vs surgical technician demographics

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

Surgery TechnicianSurgical Technician
Average age3241
Gender ratioMale, 26.3% Female, 73.7%Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%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 Percentage9%13%

Differences between surgery technician and surgical technician duties and responsibilities

Surgery technician example responsibilities.

  • Sterilized/packed surgical instruments, prepare large and small animal patients for surgery, assist with surgical procedures.
  • Use compassion when client's pets have passed away or need to be euthanize due to loss of quality of life.
  • Assist in positioning and supporting patients for regional anesthesia procedures such as spinal and epidurals.
  • Qualify to administer and monitor anesthesia, and assist in surgical procedures, including preparatory and post-op care.
  • Work closely with clients, other staff and Dr. Faulkner.

Surgical technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage sterilization of field during surgical procedures, ensuring cleanliness and sanitation meet organization protocol.
  • Function in scrub role in Cardio-Thoracic cases in adult and pediatrics surgeries.
  • Experience in on-site and real life crisis situations with patients needing Heimlich maneuver and/or CPR.
  • Certify nurse of the operating room, register first assistant, BLS and ACLS certify.
  • Operate as part of the anesthesia team by assisting the anesthesiologist and the CRNA before and during routine surgical cases.
  • Distribute instruments, sponges, sutures and other supplies to surgeons using aseptic technique and assists in a variety of specialties.
  • Show more

Surgery technician vs surgical technician skills

Common surgery technician skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • Patient Care, 17%
  • Surgical Procedures, 11%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Infection Control, 3%
  • Surgical Instruments, 3%
Common surgical technician skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Surgical Technologist, 12%
  • Surgical Procedures, 9%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • CST, 6%
  • Sterile Technique, 5%

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