Surgical Technologist
Certification requirements, cost and salary by state
Surgical Technologists assist during operations by preparing operating rooms, arranging equipment, sterilizing instruments, and passing tools to surgeons. They work in hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, and specialty clinics. Certification typically requires completing an accredited 1–2 year program and passing the CST exam.
Time to certify
Required exam
Exam cost
Education
Renewal
Annual openings
What it's actually like
A day-to-day reality check, grounded in current practitioner sources — not just the salary math.
Hours / week
Shifts: 8, 10, or 12 hours.
Weekends
Where you work: hospitals, outpatient care centers, offices of physicians.
Physical demand
HighThe role requires standing for long periods, lifting heavy trays of medical supplies, and helping to move patients.
Stress level
HighStress stems from working in a high-pressure environment where mistakes can have serious consequences and dealing with life-or-death situations.
A typical shift
- Review the day's surgical schedule to prepare for specific procedures and surgeon preferences.
- Prepare the operating room by setting up sterile surgical instruments, equipment, and supplies.
- Perform a pre-operative count of all sponges, needles, and instruments with a registered nurse.
- Assist the surgical team with scrubbing, gowning, and gloving.
- Pass instruments and sterile supplies to surgeons and assistants during operations, often anticipating their needs.
- Hold retractors, cut sutures, and manage specimens for laboratory analysis as directed.
- Apply bandages and dressings to incision sites after the operation is complete and assist in transferring the patient to recovery.
check_circle Best fit if
- —You have strong attention to detail and can remain calm and focused under high-pressure, life-or-death situations.
- —You possess the physical stamina to stand for many hours at a time and the manual dexterity to handle small instruments precisely.
- —You are an excellent listener and communicator who can precisely follow verbal instructions from surgeons in a fast-paced environment.
- —You have a strong interest in anatomy, physiology, and medical procedures and are committed to maintaining a sterile environment.
cancel Skip if
- —You are squeamish about the sight of blood, internal organs, or other bodily fluids.
- —You require a predictable 9-to-5, weekday schedule, as on-call shifts, weekends, and holidays are common, especially in hospitals.
- —You are not comfortable in a physically demanding role that requires being on your feet for the majority of an 8 to 12-hour shift.
- —You find high-stakes, stressful environments with little room for error to be overwhelming or draining.
Sources cited (19)
The Landscape
The dramatic salary difference of over $33,000 between the highest and lowest paying states is the most critical factor for career planning. While some states mandate ongoing continuing education (CE) hours for licensure, ranging from 15 hours annually to 60 over four years, many states streamline the entry process by not requiring a state license at all. This diverse regulatory landscape means your career path can vary significantly depending on where you choose to practice, balancing potential earnings with administrative requirements. A closely-related path worth comparing is the Radiology Technologist certification. For a direct earnings-vs-training-time comparison, see Surgical Technologist vs. Radiology Technologist. You can also compare Surgical Technologist vs. Dental Hygienist on the same dimensions.
Surgical Technologist by State
Licensing cost, reciprocity, and median pay across all 50 states.
| State | License | Licensing cost | Reciprocity | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | $190 | No license | $49,420 | -23.6% |
| Alaska | No | $190 | No license | $80,380 | +24.3% |
| Arizona | No | $230 | No license | $72,260 | +11.8% |
| Arkansas | No | $1 | No license | $57,400 | -11.2% |
| California | No | $290 | No license | $81,310 | +25.8% |
| Colorado | No | — | No license | $75,740 | +17.2% |
| Connecticut | No | $330 | No license | $79,890 | +23.6% |
| Delaware | No | $290 | No license | $62,250 | -3.7% |
| District of Columbia | No | $470 | No license | $77,520 | +19.9% |
| Florida | No | $190 | No license | $62,440 | -3.4% |
| Georgia | No | $290 | No license | $64,010 | -1.0% |
| Hawaii | No | $290 | No license | $82,640 | +27.8% |
| Idaho | No | $350 | No license | $72,550 | +12.2% |
| Illinois | No | $440 | Endorsement | $64,650 | +0.0% |
| Indiana | No | $290 | No license | $64,240 | -0.6% |
| Iowa | No | $190 | No license | $60,540 | -6.4% |
| Kansas | No | $330 | No license | $60,600 | -6.3% |
| Kentucky | No | — | No license | $60,490 | -6.4% |
| Louisiana | No | $450 | No license | $57,370 | -11.3% |
| Maine | No | — | No license | $62,860 | -2.8% |
| Maryland | No | $350 | No license | $68,970 | +6.7% |
| Massachusetts | No | $340 | No license | $80,870 | +25.1% |
| Michigan | No | $290 | No license | $63,320 | -2.1% |
| Minnesota | No | $190 | No license | $80,210 | +24.1% |
| Mississippi | No | $190 | No license | $49,810 | -23.0% |
| Missouri | No | $330 | No license | $61,120 | -5.5% |
| Montana | No | — | No license | $60,970 | -5.7% |
| Nebraska | No | $350 | No license | $63,880 | -1.2% |
| Nevada | No | $340 | Recognized | $75,480 | +16.8% |
| New Hampshire | No | $290 | No license | $75,040 | +16.1% |
| New Jersey | No | $550 | Recognized | $77,200 | +19.4% |
| New Mexico | No | $400 | No license | $51,780 | -19.9% |
| New York | No | $350 | No license | $79,550 | +23.0% |
| North Carolina | No | $330 | No license | $60,920 | -5.8% |
| North Dakota | No | $400 | No license | $61,640 | -4.7% |
| Ohio | No | $190 | No license | $62,420 | -3.4% |
| Oklahoma | No | $230 | No license | $61,190 | -5.4% |
| Oregon | No | $450 | No license | $81,390 | +25.9% |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | $490 | Endorsement | $62,680 | -3.0% |
| Rhode Island | No | $330 | No license | $74,130 | +14.7% |
| South Carolina | No | $340 | No license | $62,160 | -3.9% |
| South Dakota | No | $550 | Endorsement | $59,870 | -7.4% |
| Tennessee | No | $350 | Recognized | $60,530 | -6.4% |
| Texas | No | $340 | Recognized | $65,220 | +0.9% |
| Utah | No | $330 | No license | $62,720 | -3.0% |
| Vermont | No | $450 | No license | $60,660 | -6.2% |
| Virginia | No | $425 | Recognized | $67,580 | +4.5% |
| Washington | No | $420 | No license | $77,270 | +19.5% |
| West Virginia | No | $290 | No license | $49,110 | -24.0% |
| Wisconsin | No | $190 | No license | $74,120 | +14.6% |
| Wyoming | No | $190 | No license | $58,850 | -9.0% |
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