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The differences between surgical technicians and technicians 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 technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a surgical technician has an average salary of $52,193, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a surgical technician include patients, surgical technologist and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Surgical Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $52,193 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $25.09 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 70,920 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 2 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| 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.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Surgical technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Surgical Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $52,193 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $77,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | St. Tammany Health System | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a surgical technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Surgical Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Business |
| Most common college | University of Connecticut | - |
Here are the differences between surgical technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Surgical Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 2% |