How To Become A Surgical Technician: What It Is and Career Path

Q: Do surgical techs do stitches?

Yes, surgical technicians do stitches. Surgical technologists assist in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. The role of a surgical technologist primarily involves helping prepare the operating room by setting up surgical instruments and equipment, sterile drapes, and sterile solutions. Technologists also get patients ready for surgery by washing, shaving, and disinfecting incision sites.

Q: Do surgical techs make good money?

Yes, surgical technicians make good money. A surgical technician makes an average of $20 per hour. However, this can vary from $10 an hour up to $30 an hour. The salary a surgical technician makes can vary depending on location and level of experience, with a typical range of $30,000 and $45,000 in annual salary.

Q: How hard is it to become a surgical tech?

It is not hard to become a surgical tech. Compared to most medical field positions, it is not hard, but it is not a grab-and-go job either. Surgical tech programs often take between 12 and 24 months to complete. There are certificate and degree programs. Both programs are widely accepted by employers and will not cause differentiation in pay.

Q: How long does it take to be a surgical technician?

After graduating from high school, it takes about one to two years to become a surgical technician. Most practicing surgical technicians enroll in an associate's degree program at a community college or technical school with a specialty in surgical technology before taking their certification exam.

Q: Is it hard to become a surgical tech?

It is not hard to become a surgical technician. Compared to more intensive healthcare roles, it is relatively easy to become a surgical technician. However, that does not mean it is simple either. A person needs to dedicate significant amounts of time and energy to complete at least an associate's degree program in surgical technology.

Q: Scrub Nurse vs Surgical Tech

A scrub nurse is a medical professional that prepares a surgical environment for a patient's surgery, while a surgical tech works as a member of the surgical team to keep the operating room safe, with functioning equipment and technologies that assist surgeons with each procedure.

What is a surgical technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A surgical technician is a skilled healthcare professional who assists during surgical procedures. They work as part of a team with surgeons, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Their responsibilities include setting up the operating room, sterilizing equipment, preparing patients for surgery, passing instruments to surgeons, and monitoring the patient's vital signs during surgery. They must have excellent organizational skills, be able to work well under pressure, and have a thorough understanding of surgical procedures.

ScoreSurgical TechnicianUS Average

Salary

4.1

Avg. Salary $52,193

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.3

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 4.84%

Black or African American 13.24%

Hispanic or Latino 14.36%

Unknown 4.15%

White 62.98%

Gender

female 73.42%

male 26.58%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

9.3

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.2

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a surgical technician?

Pros

High demand
Opportunities for career advancement
Competitive salaries and benefits
Strong sense of teamwork and camaraderie among coworkers
Ability to make a meaningful impact on patients' lives

Cons

Exposure to infectious diseases and hazardous materials
Long and irregular work hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays
Physically demanding job duties, including standing for long periods and lifting heavy objects
Emotionally challenging situations, including patient deaths and traumas
Constant need for precise attention to detail and adherence to strict protocols and procedures

Key steps to become a surgical technician

Explore surgical technician education requirements

Most common surgical technician degrees

Associate

48.7 %

Diploma

17.5 %

Bachelor's

16.7 %

Start to develop specific surgical technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	18.90%
Surgical Technologist	11.84%
Surgical Procedures	8.90%
Patient Care	8.27%
CST	5.87%

Complete relevant surgical technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New surgical technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a surgical technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real surgical technician resumes.

Gain additional surgical technician certifications

Surgical technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific surgical technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for surgical technicians include Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and Certified Surgical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research surgical technician duties and 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.

Prepare your surgical technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your surgical technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a surgical technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable surgical technician resume templates

Build a professional surgical technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your surgical technician resume.

Apply for surgical technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a surgical technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do surgical technicians rate their job?

4/5

Out of 2 Surgical Technician reviews, 50% were positive.

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Based on 2 ratings

Pay / salary

3.0

Work/life balance

2.0

Overall rating

4.0

Career growth

4.0

Surgical technician reviews

3.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2024

Pros

Sense of accomplishment working in a high stress environment and working closely with patients.

Cons

Working with people with high ego's, extremely stressful situations, and being on call really sucks. Can make enough money to sustain a lower middle class life which is not ideal in todays economy.

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2022

Pros

The complex surgical cases. My weekends off no call and no holiday.

Cons

Low pay in competitive hospitals.

What is a surgical technician and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a surgical technician?

Surgical technician career paths

Key steps to become a surgical technician

Explore surgical technician education requirements

Most common surgical technician degrees

Start to develop specific surgical technician skills

Complete relevant surgical technician training and internships

Gain additional surgical technician certifications

Research surgical technician duties and responsibilities

Prepare your surgical technician resume

Choose from 10+ customizable surgical technician resume templates

Apply for surgical technician jobs

How did you land your first surgical technician job

Average surgical technician salary

How do surgical technicians rate their job?

Surgical technician reviews

Surgical technician FAQs

Do surgical techs do stitches?

Do surgical techs make good money?

How hard is it to become a surgical tech?

How long does it take to be a surgical technician?

Is it hard to become a surgical tech?

Scrub Nurse vs Surgical Tech

Search for surgical technician jobs

Surgical technician jobs by state