Post job

Surgical technician vs obstetrics technician

The differences between surgical technicians and obstetrics 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 surgical technician and an obstetrics technician. Additionally, a surgical technician has an average salary of $52,193, which is higher than the $39,513 average annual salary of an obstetrics technician.

The top three skills for a surgical technician include patients, surgical technologist and surgical procedures. The most important skills for an obstetrics technician are patients, OB, and vaginal deliveries.

Surgical technician vs obstetrics technician overview

Surgical TechnicianObstetrics Technician
Yearly salary$52,193$39,513
Hourly rate$25.09$19.00
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs70,92055,214
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age4141
Years of experience1212

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.

What does an obstetrics technician do?

An Obstetrics Technician assists physicians and nurses in different situations, such as labor and delivery procedures. Their responsibilities include assisting patients, sterilizing tools and equipment, preparing and cleaning facilities, and monitoring the patient's health before and after the procedures. They perform clerical support tasks such as preparing and processing documents, handling calls and correspondence, answering inquiries, organizing files, overseeing schedules and inventory, and processing procurement requests while adhering to the facility's policies and regulations.

Surgical technician vs obstetrics technician salary

Surgical technicians and obstetrics technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Surgical TechnicianObstetrics Technician
Average salary$52,193$39,513
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $77,000Between $30,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companySt. Tammany Health System-
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between surgical technician and obstetrics technician education

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

Surgical TechnicianObstetrics Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut

Surgical technician vs obstetrics technician demographics

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

Surgical TechnicianObstetrics Technician
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 26.6% Female, 73.4%Male, 8.4% Female, 91.6%
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 surgical technician and obstetrics technician duties and responsibilities

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

Obstetrics technician example responsibilities.

  • Handle sterile equipment, maintain inventory and other duties with the operating room, obtain vital signs, stock patients rooms.
  • Assist in the nursing care and preparation of obstetrical and/or obstetrical-surgical patients.
  • Compose written reports of data collect from patient evaluation and present to department chief for thorough analysis of patient diagnosis.
  • Document and scan all record information from holter monitors and any charting notations include by patient.

Surgical technician vs obstetrics technician skills

Common surgical technician skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Surgical Technologist, 12%
  • Surgical Procedures, 9%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • CST, 6%
  • Sterile Technique, 5%
Common obstetrics technician skills
  • Patients, 40%
  • OB, 12%
  • Vaginal Deliveries, 8%
  • Surgical Procedures, 7%
  • Delivery Room, 5%
  • Nursery, 4%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs