Surgical Technician as a Career

What is a surgical technician?

Surgical technicians perform under the supervision of the surgeon, surgical nurse or other members of the surgical team. They are responsible for checking the safety of the surgical area, checking if the machines are still in good condition. Primarily, the surgical technician is responsible for setting up and sterilizing the equipment that will be used in the surgery.  They could also assist the patient in going to the operating room and also going to the recovery room post operatively. Surgical technicians should have a presence of mind and be alert all the time because surgeries are serious procedures and a single mistake by one of the health team means serious complications or even death of the patient.

What schools offer training for this job?

Neither the job itself nor the road to becoming a surgical technician is easy. It takes training, perseverance and dedication to learn and perform the job. However, the rewards are worth it. Currently, for every hard-working surgical technologist, there are five surgical tech job openings. In addition, surgical technologists are earning higher salaries than ever before, with median incomes in 2007 nearly $4,000 higher than in 2004. This line of work needs skillful training because it involves safety for both the patient and the health team. Becoming a surgical technician requires a clinical program that typically can only be entered once a student has completed their pre-requisites. These pre-requisites, which typically take 2-years can often be completed in 1-year. Among the top schools that offers this type of course are American Intercontinental University, Virginia College Online, South University, Ashford University, Keiser University. This schools offer special trainings in which they produce skillful graduates to perform this line of duty.

How much will I earn as a surgical technician?

Starting hourly pay for surgical technicians can range from $12.72 to $18 per hour, nationally. The average salary could reach up to $21,000 – $43,000 depending on certain conditions such as experience, certifications and advance trainings. According to salary.com, the median expected salary for a typical surgical technician in the United States is $40,064. This basic market pricing report was prepared using our Certified Compensation Professionals’ analysis of survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at employers of all sizes, industries and geographies. Your pay can be dramatically affected by compensable factors such as employer size, industry, employee credentials, years of experience and others. The experienced you are, the higher your salary is. Finishing an advanced training as a surgical technician also gives you a great advantage towards others.