# Surgical Technologists

> Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/surgical-technologists
- SOC code: 29-2055.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $64,650 (10th percentile $45,940, 90th percentile $96,940)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.0%
- Openings a year: 7,100
- Typical entry education: Postsecondary certificate
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 88 |
| Investigative (I) | 37 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 47 |
| Enterprising (E) | 10 |
| Conventional (C) | 64 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 95/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 93/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 93/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 92/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 90/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 90/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 89/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 88/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 88/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 88/100)

## Skills

Monitoring, Active Listening, Operations Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Service Orientation, Speaking, Time Management, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination

## Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Production and Processing, Psychology, Computers and Electronics, Biology, Mechanical, Administration and Management

## Also called

Central Supply Technician (Central Supply Tech), Certified Scrub Technician (Certified Scrub Tech), CST (Certified Surgical Technologist), CVOR Technologist (Cardiovascular Operating Room Technologist), OR Surgical Tech (Operating Room Surgical Technician), OR Surgical Technologist (Operating Room Surgical Technologist), OR Tech (Operating Room Technician), OR Technologist (Operating Room Technologist), Scrub Technician (Scrub Tech), Scrub Technologist (Scrub Tech)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5109) (CIP 5109, 1,504 colleges)
- [Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5108) (CIP 5108, 1,063 colleges)
- [Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5110) (CIP 5110, 824 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Wagner College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wagner-college-3148) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | not reported | $156,982 | $27,000 |
| [St. John's University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/st-john-s-university-new-york-2579) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $102,500 | $142,774 | $23,325 |
| [Loma Linda University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loma-linda-university-1516) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $112,525 | $125,835 | $20,000 |
| [CUNY York College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-york-college-749) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $118,710 | $122,313 | not reported |
| [John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/college/john-patrick-university-of-health-and-applied-sciences-1341) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $112,673 | $122,061 | $23,437 |
| [Saint Francis University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-francis-university-2301) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | not reported | $115,813 | $28,000 |
| [D'Youville University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/d-youville-university-755) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $113,290 | $114,737 | $30,703 |
| [Molloy College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/molloy-college-1749) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $90,567 | $111,267 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Surgical Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/surgical-assistants): $66,800 median pay
- [Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cardiovascular-technologists-and-technicians): $74,310 median pay
- [Endoscopy Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/endoscopy-technicians): $48,430 median pay
- [Medical Equipment Preparers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-equipment-preparers): $47,700 median pay
- [Radiologic Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/radiologic-technologists-and-technicians): $80,110 median pay
- [Diagnostic Medical Sonographers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/diagnostic-medical-sonographers): $96,590 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.