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 MonitoringCoordinationCritical ThinkingTime ManagementSpeakingReading Comprehension
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareMedical softwareElectronic mail softwareCloud-based data access and sharing softwareGraphics or photo imaging software
Representative tasks
Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, or diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation.Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery.Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.Order surgical supplies.Observe patients' vital signs to assess physical condition.Maintain supply of fluids, such as plasma, saline, blood, or glucose, for use during operations.Maintain files and records of surgical procedures.
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
50 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Dental Assistant Journeyman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force 4Y051H)Surgery Technician (Surgery Tech)Operating Room Technician (OR Tech)Hospital Corpsman (Navy HM)Surgical TechnicianDental Assistant (Air Force 4Y0X1)Surgical Technologist (Surgical Tech)Health Services Management (Air Force 4A0X1)Dental Assistant Craftsman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force 4Y071H)Respiratory Care Practitioner Journeyman (Air Force 4H051)Health Services Technician (Coast Guard HS)Dental Assistant Apprentice (Air Force 4Y031)Respiratory Care Practitioner Helper (Air Force 4H011)Certified Surgical TechnicianOperating Room Surgical Technician (OR St)Perioperative Nurse (Army 66E)Nurse Corps Officer (Army 66)Health Services Management Apprentice (Air Force 4A031)Dental Assistant Craftsman (Air Force 4Y071)Surgical OrderlyCertified Surgical Technologist (CST)Travel Surgical TechnologistSurgical Scrub Technologist (Surgical Scrub Tech)Respiratory Care Practitioner Apprentice (Air Force 4H031)Health Services Management Craftsman (Air Force 4A071)Dental Assistant Helper (Air Force 4Y011)Health Services Management Superintendent (Air Force 4A091)Aerospace Medical Service Manager (Air Force 4N000)Operating Room Technologist (OR Tech)Operating Room Nurse (Air Force 46S3)Travel Surgical Tech (Travel Surgical Technician)Operating Room Nurse (Air Force 46SX)Scrub TechnicianHealth Services Management Craftsman, Health Information Technology (Air Force 4A071S)Cardiovascular Technician (Navy 001354)Cardiovascular Operating Room Technologist (CVOR Technologist)Respiratory Care Practitioner Manager (Air Force 4H000)Travel OR Tech (Travel Operating Room Technician)Surgical Scrub TechnicianDental Assistant Journeyman (Air Force 4Y051)