Surgical Technologist Salary by State (May 2025 BLS Data)
By The College Match Editorial Team · Data: May 2025 · Updated October 2026
Surgical technologists earn a median of $64,650 a year nationally, but pay depends heavily on location: from $49,110 in West Virginia to $82,640 in Hawaii.
Surgical technologists prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment and assist surgeons during operations. The table below covers all 50 states and Washington, DC, using the latest wage survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. median
$64,650
Highest: Hawaii
$82,640
Lowest: West Virginia
$49,110
Employed in the U.S.
117,460
Surgical Technologist pay in every state
Sorted by median annual wage. "Typical range" is the 10th to 90th percentile: 80% of surgical technologists in the state earn within it.
| Rank | State | Median | Average | Typical range | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $82,640 | $73,790 | $39,370 – $94,010 | 290 |
| 2 | Oregon | $81,390 | $80,990 | $59,930 – $97,330 | 1,090 |
| 3 | California | $81,310 | $82,810 | $49,140 – $115,740 | 11,920 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $80,870 | $83,820 | $60,350 – $109,550 | 2,220 |
| 5 | Alaska | $80,380 | $79,670 | $54,840 – $101,060 | 310 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $80,210 | $79,670 | $62,820 – $98,470 | 1,770 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $79,890 | $76,710 | $45,980 – $104,920 | 1,220 |
| 8 | New York | $79,550 | $81,990 | $53,680 – $105,330 | 6,540 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $77,520 | $70,610 | $37,800 – $101,180 | 340 |
| 10 | Washington | $77,270 | $78,400 | $55,270 – $103,690 | 2,510 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $77,200 | $75,640 | $48,270 – $100,490 | 2,780 |
| 12 | Colorado | $75,740 | $72,820 | $51,040 – $92,580 | 2,100 |
| 13 | Nevada | $75,480 | $74,880 | $48,330 – $102,430 | 1,110 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $75,040 | $72,380 | $56,760 – $87,560 | 370 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $74,130 | $73,920 | $49,910 – $101,850 | 240 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $74,120 | $72,530 | $59,410 – $86,670 | 2,180 |
| 17 | Idaho | $72,550 | $69,990 | $48,430 – $87,210 | 1,100 |
| 18 | Arizona | $72,260 | $72,640 | $50,030 – $96,840 | 2,410 |
| 19 | Maryland | $68,970 | $69,740 | $45,590 – $85,820 | 1,880 |
| 20 | Virginia | $67,580 | $71,790 | $47,980 – $102,020 | 1,910 |
| 21 | Texas | $65,220 | $66,640 | $39,950 – $92,580 | 10,160 |
| 22 | Illinois | $64,650 | $70,070 | $48,560 – $91,890 | 3,570 |
| 23 | Indiana | $64,240 | $66,930 | $51,350 – $80,600 | 2,680 |
| 24 | Georgia | $64,010 | $64,610 | $40,390 – $84,040 | 4,380 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $63,880 | $65,290 | $49,870 – $79,350 | 770 |
| 26 | Michigan | $63,320 | $64,590 | $43,690 – $79,550 | 3,840 |
| 27 | Maine | $62,860 | $65,140 | $48,330 – $80,380 | 470 |
| 28 | Utah | $62,720 | $65,620 | $45,760 – $87,430 | 1,170 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $62,680 | $63,480 | $47,130 – $77,760 | 4,490 |
| 30 | Florida | $62,440 | $64,360 | $41,270 – $85,620 | 9,120 |
| 31 | Ohio | $62,420 | $64,770 | $48,110 – $80,640 | 3,730 |
| 32 | Delaware | $62,250 | $64,320 | $48,150 – $79,310 | 340 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $62,160 | $60,050 | $38,830 – $75,210 | 2,680 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $61,640 | $60,860 | $50,440 – $72,120 | 370 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $61,190 | $60,450 | $49,200 – $77,320 | 1,940 |
| 36 | Missouri | $61,120 | $60,980 | $44,930 – $78,410 | 2,100 |
| 37 | Montana | $60,970 | $60,440 | $37,690 – $79,330 | 490 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $60,920 | $61,530 | $45,990 – $78,650 | 4,400 |
| 39 | Vermont | $60,660 | $64,550 | $49,510 – $88,460 | 140 |
| 40 | Kansas | $60,600 | $59,880 | $44,720 – $76,880 | 1,200 |
| 41 | Iowa | $60,540 | $60,450 | $47,280 – $75,100 | 950 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $60,530 | $60,110 | $47,620 – $75,920 | 3,310 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $60,490 | $61,370 | $41,440 – $79,980 | 1,440 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $59,870 | $58,390 | $38,450 – $75,470 | 600 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $58,850 | $59,730 | $45,080 – $79,920 | 210 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $57,400 | $57,940 | $38,750 – $75,460 | 1,640 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $57,370 | $55,870 | $36,580 – $74,650 | 2,230 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $51,780 | $58,580 | $42,430 – $78,650 | 540 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $49,810 | $53,190 | $38,800 – $66,300 | 1,110 |
| 50 | Alabama | $49,420 | $50,680 | $36,490 – $64,360 | 2,480 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $49,110 | $52,290 | $38,010 – $72,010 | 580 |
| United States | $64,650 | $68,710 | $45,940 – $96,940 | 117,460 |
Common questions
How much do surgical technologists make in the U.S.?
The national median annual wage for surgical technologists was $64,650 in May 2025, with an average of $68,710. The middle 80% earned between $45,940 and $96,940.
Which state pays surgical technologists the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage at $82,640 a year. Of the 51 areas (states plus DC) with published figures, 21 pay above the national median.
Which state pays surgical technologists the least?
West Virginia has the lowest median wage at $49,110 a year. Lower pay often comes with a lower cost of living, so compare against local living costs.
Which state employs the most surgical technologists?
California employs the most, about 11,920.
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Find My MatchAbout this data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, occupation code 29-2055. Figures are annual wages for employed surgical technologists and exclude the self-employed. Some states' figures are not published by BLS and show as n/a. See our editorial standards for how we build these pages.