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The differences between surgical technicians and nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a surgical technician, becoming a nurse takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a nurse has an average salary of $57,564, which is higher than the $52,193 average annual salary of a surgical technician.
The top three skills for a surgical technician include patients, surgical technologist and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.
| Surgical Technician | Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $52,193 | $57,564 |
| Hourly rate | $25.09 | $27.68 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 70,920 | 696,124 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
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.
Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.
Surgical technicians and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Surgical Technician | Nurse | |
| Average salary | $52,193 | $57,564 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $77,000 | Between $38,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | St. Tammany Health System | Conviva |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a surgical technician and a nurse in terms of educational background:
| Surgical Technician | Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Connecticut | Duke University |
Here are the differences between surgical technicians' and nurses' demographics:
| Surgical Technician | Nurse | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4% | Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 9% |