Surgical Technologist Job Description Information

Surgical technologists work side by side with physicians, registered nurses and other health care personnel to care for patients in surgery. A surgical technologist will provide vital services to both patients and other staff to ensure the patient, surgical equipment, and all necessary supplies are prepared for the procedures.

 

Where

• Most surgical technologists are employed by hospitals, however, clinics, surgical centers and physician's offices also staff surgical techs.

Operating Room Techs

• Surgical technologists may also be known as operating room technicians because of their role in operating rooms. Passing equipment to the working surgeons during medical procedures is one way a surgical tech partakes in the events of surgery.

Set Up

• Surgical technologists help set up the operating room with necessary surgical instruments and equipment; they also stock sterile linens and sterile solutions. Checking equipment to ensure it is in good working order is another important task.

Preparing Patients

• Surgical techs help prepare patients for surgery by washing, shaving and sterilizing wounds and infection sites.

Outlook

• According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, through 2008, employment in surgical technology is expected to grow much faster than average, when compared to other occupations. This may be because of the increased volume in surgical procedures. See Resources for more information.

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Surgical Technologist Salary Information

A surgical tech, alternately called a scrub, surgical technician or surgical technologist, assists surgeons and nurses in surgical procedures. These workers are responsible fore preparing surgical equipment for use, assembling and sterilizing equipment and even preparing patients by shaving and washing incision areas. Surgical tech salaries differ based on various factors.

 

National Averages

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there were about 91,250 surgical techs employed in the U.S. 2009. These workers earned an average of about $19.57 per hour, or about $40,710 per year. The top 10 percent earned an average hourly wage of $26.74, or about $55,620 a year, while the lowest 10 percent made an average of $13.42 an hour, or $27,910 a year. The middle 50 percent of surgical techs made an average of $18.94 an hour, or about $39,400 a year.

Highest Paying Industries

• Surgical techs employed in the office of other health practitioners sector of the industry had the highest average salaries in 2009, according to the BLS. These workers made an average of $27.03 per hour, or about $56,220 per year. Surgical techs in the employment services sector earned the next highest average salary of $23.18 per hour, or about $48,220 per year.

Highest Paying States

• Surgical technicians in Maryland, Nevada, Minnesota, the District of Columbia and California had the highest average salaries in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Surgical techs in Maryland made an average salary of $23.47 per hour, or about $48,820 per year, while those in Nevada made about $23.29 per hour, or $48,440 per year. Surgical technicians in California made an average of $22.40 per hour, or about $46,600 per year.

Highest Paying Metro Areas

• Surgical technician salaries in some metropolitan areas were much higher than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that surgical techs in San Jose, California, had the highest average salary for any metro-area in 2009, making $27.76 per hour, or $57,730 per year. The next highest paying city, Bethesda, Maryland, had average salaries of $26.46 per hour, or $55,030 per year. San Francisco was the lowest of the five highest-paying metro-areas, with techs earning an hourly wage of $25.29, and an annual income of about $52,600.

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How to Become a Surgical Technologist

Surgical technologists are trained to assist the doctors and nurses operating on patients in hospitals and clinics. There is an increasing call for surgical technologists as the population is aging and the demand for health care is increasing. This profession requires years of study and a strong constitution to witness surgeries and stay calm in a stressful environment.

1. Finish high school or get a GED. Look for technical schools that offer surgical technology courses and certificates. Study the types of responsibilities that surgical technicians have and decide whether this vocation is right for you. Understand that the job requires constant exposure to blood and the strong odors associated with surgery.
2. Attend a technical or vocational school for a 2-year certification program. Take all of the required courses to study the role of surgeons and the role that surgical technologists play in the operating room. Think about a specialty you might like to pursue after graduation, such as a scrub assistant or a tech that sets up the operating room.
3. Graduate from the program with the grades necessary. Get your certificate and begin applying to hospitals and clinics, Apply also to private practice doctors who perform operations in their offices, such as plastic surgeons.
4. Get some experience on the job and decide if the branch of medicine you chose is a good fit. Further specialize in one medical specialty, such as neurology or orthopedic medicine, if desired and seek a position in that specialty.
5. Study the surgeons you work for and learn to anticipate their needs in order to make operations run more smoothly. Move up the ranks of surgical technicians to raise your salary and job opportunities.

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