Occupation · SOC 29-2055
Surgical Technologists
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.
Median wage
$62,830
$43,290–$90,700
Projected growth
+4.5%
Average growth
Annual openings
520
per year
Employed (US)
113,890
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
169 mapped
Core skills
MonitoringActive ListeningOperations MonitoringTime ManagementSpeakingCritical ThinkingCoordinationSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationReading ComprehensionOperation and ControlManagement of Material ResourcesLearning StrategiesJudgment and Decision MakingInstructingEquipment MaintenanceComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningWritingSystems EvaluationQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesTroubleshootingPersuasionNegotiationMathematicsSystems AnalysisRepairingEquipment SelectionScienceOperations AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingPublic Safety and SecurityPsychologyBiologyMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsAdministration and ManagementChemistryProduction and ProcessingMechanicalTherapy and CounselingLaw and GovernmentPersonnel and Human ResourcesSociology and AnthropologyAdministrativeEngineering and TechnologyCommunications and MediaTelecommunicationsPhysicsEconomics and AccountingTransportationSales and MarketingPhilosophy and TheologyDesignForeign LanguageBuilding and ConstructionGeographyHistory and ArcheologyFood ProductionFine Arts
Technology & tools
Database softwareElectronic medical record EMR softwareEmail softwareGoogle DriveGraphics softwareInternet browser softwareMEDITECH softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordNursing documentation softwarePatient scheduling softwarePatient tracking softwareSupply documentation softwareSurgery workflow communication softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Getting InformationAssisting and Caring for OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkTraining and Teaching OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleDeveloping and Building TeamsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersCoaching and Developing OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersProcessing InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationControlling Machines and ProcessesThinking CreativelyResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationScheduling Work and ActivitiesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesWorking with ComputersAnalyzing Data or InformationGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational Units
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Sterile field boundaries — recognize and maintain under direct supervision during routine surgical procedures in a hospital operating room.Sponge, needle, and instrument counts — perform initial and closing counts by following established protocols with supervision from a senior scrub technologist.Surgical hand scrub technique — execute step-by-step arm and hand scrubbing procedure according to department guidelines before entering the sterile field.Sterile gowning and gloving — assist surgical team members in donning gloves, masks, and sterile clothing under the guidance of a circulating nurse.Patient positioning and draping — help position patients on the operating table and apply sterile surgical drapes following standard exposure-prevention protocols.Basic surgical instruments — identify common instruments by name and function during orientation rotations in general surgery cases.Tissue specimen handling — collect, label, and transfer specimens to designated containers under direct instruction from the surgeon or charge nurse.Equipment sterilization — wash and process reusable instruments using germicides and autoclaves in accordance with facility sterilization policies.Surgical supply preparation — gather and arrange required supplies on the back table before a scheduled procedure using a surgeon preference card.Medical software and documentation — enter basic case data into the operating room information system with oversight from an experienced team member.
developing
Sterile field integrity — monitor and sustain a proper sterile field throughout varied surgical procedures with minimal prompting from the surgical team.Instrument and sponge reconciliation — conduct accurate pre- and post-operative counts independently and communicate discrepancies to the circulating nurse in a timely manner.Scrub team preparation — guide new team members through the scrubbing and gowning process, ensuring compliance with aseptic technique in the OR.Intraoperative instrument passing — anticipate surgeon needs and hand instruments, retractors, and sutures efficiently during routine general and specialty cases.Patient draping and positioning — set up and apply sterile drapes for multiple procedure types, adapting to patient anatomy and surgical access requirements.Technical assistance coordination — provide reliable support to surgeons and anesthesiologists by managing instrument tables and responding promptly to verbal directions.Specimen care and chain of custody — prepare, label, and document tissue specimens for laboratory analysis, maintaining proper chain of custody throughout.Sterilization quality assurance — verify that sterilization cycles meet required standards and document results in the facility's sterilization tracking database.Time management in the OR — organize back table setup and turnover tasks to meet scheduled case start times across multiple daily procedures.Critical incident recognition — identify breaks in sterile technique or equipment anomalies and report them promptly to the appropriate team member during live cases.
proficient
Complex sterile field management — maintain and troubleshoot the sterile field autonomously during multi-team, high-acuity surgical cases including trauma and cardiovascular procedures.Count discrepancy resolution — apply critical thinking to investigate and resolve sponge, needle, or instrument count discrepancies before wound closure under time pressure.Full-scope scrub service — scrub independently on the full range of surgical specialties, from orthopedics to neurosurgery, adapting technique to each discipline's requirements.Surgeon-level technical anticipation — predict instrument and supply needs throughout complex operative sequences, enabling uninterrupted surgical flow with minimal verbal communication.Non-routine patient preparation — manage positioning and draping for unusual anatomical presentations, robotic-assisted setups, and specialized equipment configurations.Intraoperative problem solving — evaluate and respond to unexpected equipment failures or supply shortfalls during live surgery, implementing contingency solutions without disrupting the operative field.Specimen integrity assurance — oversee preparation, preservation, and hand-off of multiple concurrent tissue specimens, ensuring pathology requirements are met for all case types.Sterilization program oversight — evaluate the efficacy of sterilization and disinfection processes across instrument categories, escalating concerns through proper safety channels.OR technology proficiency — utilize medical software, electronic documentation platforms, and cloud-based case management tools to maintain accurate records across a full case load.Active learning and specialty adaptation — independently study emerging surgical techniques and instrumentation to maintain competency as new procedures are adopted by the surgical service.
advanced
Sterile technique standards — establish and enforce evidence-based sterile field protocols across the surgical suite, reducing infection rates at the departmental level.Competency education and training — design and deliver orientation curricula and skills assessments for new surgical technologists and student scrub technicians in the OR setting.Surgical team coordination leadership — lead pre-operative briefings and coordinate cross-functional roles among surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists to optimize case efficiency and safety.Policy development for count procedures — author and implement department-wide sponge, needle, and instrument count policies aligned with AORN guidelines and accreditation standards.Mentorship and performance development — coach developing technologists through structured feedback, simulation exercises, and progressive case assignments across surgical specialties.Material resource management — oversee surgical supply inventories, vendor relationships, and preference-card standardization to control costs while sustaining clinical readiness.Quality improvement leadership — lead root-cause analyses of adverse events and near-misses, translating findings into sustained process improvements across the perioperative department.Technology adoption and integration — evaluate and champion new surgical information systems, sterilization tracking platforms, and OR scheduling software for departmental implementation.Cross-departmental collaboration — serve as the surgical technology liaison to pathology, central sterile processing, and infection control teams to ensure seamless perioperative workflows.Strategic workforce planning — advise surgical services leadership on staffing models, scope-of-practice considerations, and professional development pathways for the surgical technology workforce.
Also known as
17 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Cardiovascular Operating Room Technologist (CVOR Technologist)Certified Surgical TechnicianCertified Surgical Technologist (CST)Operating Room Surgical Technician (OR St)Operating Room Surgical TechnologistOperating Room Technician (OR Tech)Operating Room Technologist (OR Tech)Scrub TechnicianSurgery Technician (Surgery Tech)Surgical OrderlySurgical Scrub TechnicianSurgical Scrub Technologist (Surgical Scrub Tech)Surgical TechnicianSurgical Technologist (Surgical Tech)Travel OR Tech (Travel Operating Room Technician)Travel Surgical Tech (Travel Surgical Technician)Travel Surgical Technologist