Post job

Surgical technician vs surgical scrub technician

The differences between surgical 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 surgical technician and a surgical scrub technician. Additionally, a surgical scrub technician has an average salary of $52,701, 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 surgical scrub technician are patients, surgical procedures, and CPR.

Surgical technician vs surgical scrub technician overview

Surgical TechnicianSurgical Scrub Technician
Yearly salary$52,193$52,701
Hourly rate$25.09$25.34
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs70,92040,168
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 49%Associate Degree, 40%
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 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.

Surgical technician vs surgical scrub technician salary

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

Surgical TechnicianSurgical Scrub Technician
Average salary$52,193$52,701
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $77,000Between $35,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companySt. Tammany Health System-
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between surgical technician and surgical scrub technician education

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

Surgical TechnicianSurgical Scrub Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 49%Associate Degree, 40%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut

Surgical technician vs surgical scrub technician demographics

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

Surgical TechnicianSurgical Scrub Technician
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 26.6% Female, 73.4%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 surgical technician and surgical scrub 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

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.
  • Show more

Surgical technician vs surgical scrub technician skills

Common surgical technician skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Surgical Technologist, 12%
  • Surgical Procedures, 9%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • CST, 6%
  • Sterile Technique, 5%
Common surgical scrub technician skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Surgical Procedures, 14%
  • CPR, 12%
  • HIPAA, 8%
  • Surgical Equipment, 8%
  • Surgical Scrub, 6%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs