Surveillance technician vs surgical technician

The differences between surveillance technicians and surgical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a surveillance technician, becoming a surgical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a surgical technician has an average salary of $52,193, which is higher than the $41,279 average annual salary of a surveillance technician.

The top three skills for a surveillance technician include ladders, CCTV and construction sites. The most important skills for a surgical technician are patients, surgical technologist, and surgical procedures.

Surveillance technician vs surgical technician overview

	Surveillance Technician	Surgical Technician
Yearly salary	$41,279	$52,193
Hourly rate	$19.85	$25.09
Growth rate	9%	6%
Number of jobs	13,099	70,920
Job satisfaction	1	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Associate Degree, 49%
Average age	38	41
Years of experience	2	12

What does a surveillance technician do?

A man without specific skills can't be the perfect man. Surveillance Technician, thus, needs to be tactful. He/She has to possess a wide range of exposure such as technical skills like electrical and video installation knowledge, maintenance skills such as drilling, wiring, cabling, and network administration skills.

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.

Surveillance technician vs surgical technician salary

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

	Surveillance Technician	Surgical Technician
Average salary	$41,279	$52,193
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $55,000	Between $35,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	St. Tammany Health System
Best paying industry	-	Professional

Differences between surveillance technician and surgical technician education

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

	Surveillance Technician	Surgical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Associate Degree, 49%
Most common major	Business	Medical Technician
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Connecticut

Surveillance technician vs surgical technician demographics

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

	Surveillance Technician	Surgical Technician
Average age	38	41
Gender ratio	Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3%	Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 10.4% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	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 Percentage	8%	13%

Differences between surveillance technician and surgical technician duties and responsibilities

Surveillance technician example responsibilities.

Manage implementation and networking of multi-million dollar tactical datalink architecture consisting of windows base and proprietary systems.
Manage numerous outdoor storage locations for government ammunition stockpiles while simultaneously providing rapid logistical support to facilitate employee training.
Switch over to digital recording which involve IP addressing cameras, video encoders, hard drive arrays, and Cisco switches.
Maintain hardware and software systems and manual records require to successfully perform stock control accounting procedures for ammunition and explosives.
Maintain physical control over all entrances to the SCIF.
Use of DoD equipment and technologies for surveillance monitoring.

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.

Surveillance technician vs surgical technician skills

Common surveillance technician skills

Ladders, 10%
CCTV, 8%
Construction Sites, 7%
Surveillance Equipment, 7%
CST, 6%
Security Integrity, 5%

Common surgical technician skills

Patients, 19%
Surgical Technologist, 12%
Surgical Procedures, 9%
Patient Care, 8%
CST, 6%
Sterile Technique, 5%

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Surveillance Technician vs Surgical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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