Scrub techs, also known as surgical technologists, play a vital role in the operating room, working alongside surgeons to ensure the safety and success of surgical procedures. Beyond the rewarding experience of contributing to patient care, scrub techs also enjoy a competitive salary. But just How Much Do Scrub Techs Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for surgical technologists in the United States is $62,250, or $29.93 per hour. However, this figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, certifications, and the type of healthcare facility.
This guide provides a detailed overview of scrub tech salaries, comparing them to similar healthcare professions and offering insights into how to increase your earning potential.
Alt: A surgical technologist assisting a surgeon during an operation, ensuring a sterile environment.
Scrub Tech Salary Overview
The median annual salary for scrub techs in the US is $62,250, which translates to an hourly wage of $29.93. Entry-level scrub techs in rural areas might start around $25,640 per year. Experienced scrub techs in metropolitan areas can earn upwards of $95,800 annually, or $46.06 per hour.
The job outlook for surgical technologists is positive, with a projected growth rate of 5% from 2022 to 2032, exceeding the average for all occupations in the U.S. Several factors influence a scrub tech’s earning potential:
Scrub Tech Salary by State
The location where a scrub tech works greatly impacts their salary. Here’s a breakdown of median hourly and annual wages by state:
| State | Hourly Median | Annual Median |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $21.99 | $45,730 |
| Alaska | $37.70 | $78,410 |
| Arizona | $31.21 | $64,920 |
| Arkansas | $23.77 | $49,430 |
| California | $37.69 | $78,400 |
| Colorado | $30.50 | $63,430 |
| Connecticut | $38.55 | $80,190 |
| Delaware | $29.37 | $61,090 |
| District of Columbia | $32.94 | $68,520 |
| Florida | $27.25 | $56,670 |
| Georgia | $28.04 | $58,330 |
| Hawaii | $32.63 | $67,880 |
| Idaho | $29.66 | $61,680 |
| Illinois | $28.73 | $59,750 |
| Indiana | $28.12 | $58,480 |
| Iowa | $24.51 | $50,990 |
| Kansas | $24.53 | $51,020 |
| Kentucky | $24.84 | $51,660 |
| Louisiana | $24.31 | $50,560 |
| Maine | $28.27 | $58,800 |
| Maryland | $29.93 | $62,240 |
| Massachusetts | $32.62 | $67,840 |
| Michigan | $28.70 | $59,700 |
| Minnesota | $35.00 | $72,800 |
| Mississippi | $22.03 | $45,830 |
| Missouri | $27.76 | $57,730 |
| Montana | $27.90 | $58,030 |
| Nebraska | $28.67 | $59,630 |
| Nevada | $35.23 | $73,280 |
| New Hampshire | $31.63 | $65,780 |
| New Jersey | $33.45 | $69,580 |
| New Mexico | $23.60 | $49,080 |
| New York | $35.66 | $74,180 |
| North Carolina | $25.40 | $52,830 |
| North Dakota | $28.68 | $59,650 |
| Ohio | $28.33 | $58,930 |
| Oklahoma | $24.71 | $51,400 |
| Oregon | $36.32 | $75,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $27.38 | $56,940 |
| Rhode Island | $30.19 | $62,800 |
| South Carolina | $28.15 | $58,550 |
| South Dakota | $24.99 | $51,980 |
| Tennessee | $27.84 | $57,910 |
| Texas | $28.76 | $59,810 |
| Utah | $26.50 | $55,120 |
| Vermont | $26.35 | $54,820 |
| Virginia | $30.23 | $62,880 |
| Washington | $33.78 | $70,250 |
| West Virginia | $23.36 | $48,590 |
| Wisconsin | $30.84 | $64,150 |
| Wyoming | $26.06 | $54,200 |
| Puerto Rico | $11.72 | $24,370 |
Scrub Tech Salary by City
Salaries also vary significantly by metropolitan area. Below are median hourly and annual salaries for scrub techs in select cities:
| Metro Area | Primary State | Hourly Median | Annual Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $30.10 | $62,610 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | TX | $30.42 | $63,270 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $29.57 | $61,510 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | AL | $23.69 | $49,270 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | NC | $25.54 | $53,120 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | IL | $29.21 | $60,760 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | OH | $29.21 | $60,750 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | OH | $28.64 | $59,570 |
| Columbus, OH | OH | $28.33 | $58,930 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $31.24 | $64,980 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | CO | $30.35 | $63,120 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $29.52 | $61,400 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | MI | $26.21 | $54,510 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | TX | $30.61 | $63,660 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | IN | $29.23 | $60,800 |
| Jacksonville, FL | FL | $25.22 | $52,450 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $29.68 | $61,730 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | NV | $35.90 | $74,680 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | AR | $24.70 | $51,380 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $32.77 | $68,150 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | KY | $28.77 | $59,840 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | FL | $29.24 | $60,820 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | WI | $31.06 | $64,610 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $37.07 | $77,110 |
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | TN | $29.02 | $60,360 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | NY | $37.97 | $78,980 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | OK | $28.81 | $59,930 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | FL | $27.45 | $57,100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $29.38 | $61,110 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | AZ | $32.14 | $66,850 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | PA | $25.52 | $53,080 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $37.31 | $77,610 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $30.83 | $64,120 |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA | CA | $39.44 | $82,030 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | MO | $29.86 | $62,110 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | UT | $29.53 | $61,410 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | TX | $23.61 | $49,120 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $39.12 | $81,360 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | CA | $46.84 | $97,430 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $47.49 | $98,780 |
| San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR | PR | $11.93 | $24,810 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $36.82 | $76,580 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | FL | $27.84 | $57,920 |
| Tulsa, OK | OK | $23.62 | $49,130 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | VA | $26.26 | $54,620 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $36.53 | $75,970 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | MA | $33.43 | $69,530 |
Scrub Tech Salary vs. Other Similar Professions
Scrub techs typically require an associate degree or certification. Their salaries are generally higher than many other healthcare roles with similar educational requirements.
Compared to other healthcare professions:
- Clinical Laboratory Technicians: Earn approximately $62,870 per year.
- Radiology Technicians: Earn approximately $72,250 per year.
Alt: A surgical technician in scrubs, smiling and confident, ready to assist in the operating room.
How to Increase Your Scrub Tech Salary
If you’re looking to maximize your earning potential as a scrub tech, consider these strategies:
- Get Certified: Obtaining certifications such as the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or the Tech in Surgery-Certified (TS-C) through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) can significantly boost your credentials and salary prospects.
- Specialize: Focus on specific surgical areas like reconstructive, cardiac, orthopedic, or thoracic surgery to develop expertise and command higher pay.
- Become a Surgical First Assistant: With experience and additional training, you can advance to a surgical first assistant role, which involves more advanced responsibilities and higher compensation.
- Stay Updated: Continuously learn about new technologies and surgical techniques through journals and continuing education courses to remain a valuable asset to the surgical team.
- Seek Advancement: After gaining experience and demonstrating a strong work ethic, pursue opportunities for advancement, such as becoming a manager or trainer.
- Relocate: Research cities and states with higher average salaries for scrub techs, but also consider the cost of living in those areas.
- Consider Traveling: Travel scrub tech positions often offer higher pay rates and short-term contracts in various locations.
- Work in Larger Hospitals: Larger surgical centers typically offer better compensation, benefits, and resources.
- Work Off-Hours: Take advantage of pay differentials for working evenings, nights, and weekends.
- Become an Instructor: With sufficient experience, you can become a surgical tech instructor for colleges or certification programs.
Conclusion
Understanding how much do scrub techs make is crucial for those considering this rewarding career path. While the average salary provides a baseline, various factors can influence your earning potential. By pursuing certifications, specializing in a particular area, and staying updated on industry advancements, you can significantly increase your salary as a scrub tech and build a successful career in the operating room.
