Surgical technologists

Detailed Occupation

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2020 Workforce

101k

Average Age

38.7

Estimated Job Growth

6.83%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$42,757

Average Male Salary

$51,494

Average Female Salary

$39,698

About

Surgical technologists are most often employed by the General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals industry. The average yearly wage for Surgical technologists was $42,757 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Surgical technologists by wage are Court, municipal, & license clerks, Automotive service technicians & mechanics, and Highway maintenance workers.

Surgical technologists are part of the Healthcare practitioners & technical occupations, along with Chiropractors, Dentists, Dietitians & nutritionists, Optometrists, Pharmacists, and 37 more.

The top 3 locations that employ the most Surgical technologists are Fort Bend County (West & South) PUMA, TX, Johnston County PUMA, NC, and Gregg CountyLongview City PUMA, TX. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Surgical technologists are Gregg CountyLongview City PUMA, TX, Chattanooga City (South & Central) PUMA, TN, and River Parishes PUMA, LA.

Employment

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Surgical technologists and on wages and locations for those in the field. General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals is the industry that employs the most Surgical technologists, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Surgical technologists, by average wage, is Administration of human resource programs. Surgical technologists are paid most in Pike, Wayne & Susquehanna Counties PUMA, PA but are relatively concentrated in Gregg CountyLongview City PUMA, TX.

Yearly Wage

$42,757

AVERAGE SALARY

± $2,491

In 2020, Surgical technologists earned an average of $42,757, $13,197 less than than the average national salary of $55,954.

Automotive service technicians & mechanics make somewhat more than Surgical technologists while Court, municipal, & license clerks make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Surgical technologists as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.314

WAGE GINI

In 2019, Surgical technologists had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.314, which is lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Surgical technologists (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

Wage by Location

HIGHEST PAYING PUMAS

This map shows the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States shaded by average annual wage for Surgical technologists.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Surgical technologists

This map displays which Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States have a relatively high population of Surgical technologists.

Most Common

The most common industries employing Surgical technologists, by number of employees, are General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals, Pharmacies & drug stores, Outpatient care centers, Veterinary services, Offices of physicians, Offices of dentists, Other health care services, Offices of optometrists, Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores, Employment services, and Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Surgical technologists, by average wage, are Administration of human resource programs, Medical equipment & supplies manufacturing, and Employment services.

Industries by Share

101k

2020 Workforce

± 7,797

1.25%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 10.8%

The number of people employed as Surgical technologists has been growing at a rate of 1.25%, from 99,685 people in 2019 to 100,927 people in 2020.

This graphic shows the share of Surgical technologists employed by various industries. General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals employs the largest share of Surgical technologists at 53.9%, followed by Pharmacies & drug stores with 13.7% and Outpatient care centers with 8.17%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Surgical technologists in the US. The average age of male Surgical technologists in the workforce is 38.4 and of female Surgical technologists is 38.8, and the most common race/ethnicity for Surgical technologists is White (Non-Hispanic).

Composition by Sex

26.2k

MALE WORKFORCE

± 3,971

74.8k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 6,711

74.1% of Surgical technologists are Female, making them the more common sex in the occupation. This chart shows the sex breakdown of Surgical technologists.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Surgical technologists

White (Non-Hispanic)
Black (Non-Hispanic)
White (Hispanic)

60% of Surgical technologists are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 16.3% of Surgical technologists, Black (Non-Hispanic) is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation. This chart shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Surgical technologists.

Age by Sex

38.4

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 1.9

38.8

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 1.12

The median age of Surgical technologists is 38.7, and Male employees are generally 0.439 years younger than than their Female counterparts.

Education

Data on higher education choices for Surgical technologists from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Surgical technologists is Health but a relatively high number of Surgical technologists hold a major in Biology.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

MOST COMMON MAJORS

MOST SPECIALIZED MAJORS

Projections

Projections on job growth for Surgical Technologists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.71%, but Surgical Technologists are expected to see a growth of 6.83% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow more than the national average.

Job Growth

6.83%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

3.71%

National Growth

10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Surgical Technologists. This profession is expected to grow more than than 3.71%, the average rate of national job growth.