CAREER
Salary Median (2020)
$49,710
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+6.8% (as fast as the average)
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.
Certified Surgical Technician, Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), Operating Room Surgical Technician (OR St), Operating Room Technician (OR Tech), Operating Room Technologist (OR Tech), Surgical Scrub Technician, Surgical Scrub Technologist (Surgical Scrub Tech), Surgical Technician, Surgical Technologist (Surgical Tech)
Surgical Technologist
I get everything ready before a surgical procedure, including preparing any solutions, medications, instrumentation, and cameras so that it's all ready for the surgeon. I also assist during the procedure itself. I'll help with retracting, suturing, doing minor procedures, and anything else the surgeon might need assistance with.
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Associate's degree (41%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Associate's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
