To become a surgical tech in the US, you complete a certificate or associate's degree from an accredited surgical technology program, and most people then earn certification by passing an exam. Certification isn't required everywhere, but some employers require it and it helps you get hired, and a few states regulate the work.
It's one of the shorter routes into an operating room. And there's a step up from it that doesn't always need a new degree, which we'll cover below.
The figures here come from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook page for surgical assistants and technologists, read on 26 October 2026. It's a careers guide about training, certification and pay, not clinical advice.
Surgical tech pay and jobs at a glance
| Measure | BLS figure |
|---|---|
| Median pay, surgical technologists (May 2025) | $64,650 a year |
| Lowest 10 in every 100 earned less than | $45,940 |
| Highest 10 in every 100 earned more than | $96,940 |
| Jobs in 2025, surgical technologists | About 118,400 |
| Projected growth 2025 to 2035, assistants and technologists | 5%, faster than average |
| Openings each year, assistants and technologists | About 8,600 on average |
Those pay figures are as of October 2026, from the May 2025 BLS wage survey.
The route in, step by step
- Find an accredited surgical technology program. BLS says many community colleges and vocational schools offer them, as do some universities and hospitals.
- Complete a certificate or an associate's degree. Courses include anatomy, microbiology and physiology, plus sterilisation techniques, infection control and setting up technical or robotic equipment.
- Get hands-on experience in supervised clinical settings, which is part of the program.
- Pass a certification exam through a credentialing organisation. Certification typically requires an accredited program or military training program plus the exam.
- Get CPR or basic life support certification, or both, which many jobs require.
- Check whether your state regulates surgical technologists, and contact the state licensing agency if it does.
The step up most people miss: first assistant
Surgical assistants, sometimes called first assistants, work a level up from techs. BLS says some complete a formal surgical assisting program, while others work as surgical technologists and get extra on-the-job training to become first assistants.
| Role | Median pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Surgical assistants | $66,800 |
| Surgical technologists | $64,650 |
The medians are close, but the top end differs: the highest 10 in every 100 surgical assistants earned more than $107,610, against $96,940 for technologists, as of October 2026. Where you work matters too. Surgical assistants in offices of physicians had a median of $80,210, the highest of the top industries BLS lists for them.
Where surgical techs work
Hospitals employ 71% of surgical technologists. Offices of physicians and outpatient care centers come next, at 11 and 10 in every 100. BLS counts ambulatory surgical centers inside outpatient care centers.
| Industry (surgical technologists) | Median pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local and private | $65,020 |
| Outpatient care centers | $64,670 |
| Offices of physicians | $64,590 |
| Administrative and support services | $62,400 |
| Offices of dentists | $48,190 |
For techs, pay is fairly even across the big settings. The real choice is about hours: hospital techs may work or be on call nights, weekends and holidays, and shifts can run longer than 8 hours.
What the job asks of you
- Keeping the sterile field intact to prevent infection during surgery.
- Standing for long periods, and helping move patients or lift heavy trays of supplies.
- Working closely with surgeons, nurses and other healthcare workers.
- Coping with unpleasant sights and odors, and exposure to communicable diseases.
BLS also says surgical technologists have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, from slips, falls and overexertion. Safe lifting and following procedures aren't optional extras here, so it's worth asking any program how it teaches them.
Choosing a program
Accreditation is the first thing to check. BLS says certification typically requires completing an accredited formal education program or a military training program, so a school that isn't accredited can leave you unable to sit the exam. After that, compare the clinical side: how much supervised time you'll spend in real operating rooms, and where those placements happen.
It's also worth asking whether the program teaches the technical and robotic equipment you'll see on the job, since BLS lists setting it up among the things these programs cover. And if you already know you want to become a first assistant one day, ask whether the school runs a surgical assisting program as well.
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Other healthcare paths to compare
If you're choosing between allied health roles, compare where each one can take you later. Our guide to remote healthcare jobs in demand shows what clinical experience can lead to, and how healthcare staffing is changing looks at the hiring side.
How long it takes
A certificate program is usually the quicker option, and an associate's degree takes longer. Add time for the certification exam after you finish. If you later want to become a first assistant, you can train on the job, so that step doesn't always mean going back to school.
My verdict
Surgical tech is a solid, shorter route into the operating room: an accredited certificate or associate's degree, then a certification exam that most employers value. Pay is similar across hospitals, outpatient centers and physicians' offices, so choose on the hours you can live with. If you want more later, the first assistant step is the natural next move, and BLS says you can reach it with on-the-job training.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a surgical tech?
You'll typically need a certificate or associate's degree from an accredited program, then most people sit a certification exam.
Do surgical techs need to be certified?
Not always. BLS says certification may be beneficial for finding a job and some employers require it. Some states also regulate the work.
How much do surgical techs make?
BLS reports a median of $64,650 a year for surgical technologists in May 2025, as of October 2026.
Can a surgical tech become a surgical assistant?
Yes. BLS says some surgical technologists receive additional on-the-job training to become first assistants.
Where do most surgical techs work?
Hospitals employ 71% of surgical technologists, according to BLS, followed by offices of physicians and outpatient care centers.
Is surgical tech a growing field?
BLS projects 5% growth for surgical assistants and technologists from 2025 to 2035, with about 8,600 openings a year.
