Surgical Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Surgical Technology is a specialized health sciences program designed to train professionals who play a critical role in the operating room environment. Graduates are equipped to support surgical teams by ensuring strict adherence to sterile protocols and maintaining optimal conditions for patient safety and surgical success.
- Instrument and Equipment Sterilization and Handling: Mastery of techniques and procedures to properly sterilize surgical tools and equipment, ensuring they are safe for use and free from contamination.
- Surgical Supplies Management: Comprehensive understanding of inventory control, preparation, and organization of surgical materials to support seamless procedure execution.
- Wound Exposure and Closure Techniques: Training in assisting surgeons with exposing surgical sites and supporting the precise closure of incisions using appropriate methods and materials.
- Surgical Computer and Robotic System Operation: Proficiency in operating, monitoring, and maintaining advanced surgical technologies, including robotic-assisted systems and integrated digital platforms.
- Maintenance of Hemostasis: Knowledge of methods and tools used to control bleeding during surgery, contributing to patient stability and procedural efficiency.
- Scrubbing and Aseptic Technique: Expertise in preoperative and intraoperative scrubbing procedures for both patients and surgical team members to uphold sterile conditions throughout the procedure.
Surgical Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Surgical Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Surgical Technology degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assistants. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 366,470 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
| Surgical Technologists 29-2055 | $62,830 | $43,290 - $90,700 | 113,890 | $30.21 |
| Surgical Assistants 29-9093 | $60,290 | $39,540 - $102,390 | 22,860 | $28.99 |
Surgical Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $55,090 in Oklahoma to $110,787 in District of Columbia—a 101% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Colorado, and Arkansas. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 366,470 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Surgical Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 99 institutions offering Surgical Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Surgical Technology is found at Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting (520 graduates), Madisonville Community College (MCC) (130 graduates), Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (106 graduates), Texas State Technical College (TSTC) (90 graduates), and American Career College (ACC), Los Angeles (89 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,978 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting |
Associate's
Other Award
|
520 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | meridian-institute.edu |
| Madisonville Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
130 | Madisonville, Kentucky | Public | madisonville.kctcs.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Associate's
|
106 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Texas State Technical College (TSTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
90 | Waco, Texas | Public | tstc.edu |
| American Career College (ACC) |
Associate's
|
89 | Los Angeles, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
83 | Senatobia, Mississippi | Public | northwestms.edu |
| Southern Technical College (STC) |
Associate's
|
76 | Fort Myers, Florida | Private | southerntech.edu |
| American Career College (ACC) |
Associate's
|
59 | Ontario, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| City Colleges of Chicago (MXC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
56 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | ccc.edu |
| Mandl School-The College of Allied Health |
Associate's
|
54 | New York, New York | Private | mandl.edu |
| San Jacinto Community College |
Associate's
|
54 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| Southeastern College |
Associate's
|
53 | West Palm Beach, Florida | Private | sec.edu |
| Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
50 | Panama City, Florida | Public | gulfcoast.edu |
| Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
48 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsatech.edu |
| GateWay Community College (GWCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
45 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | gatewaycc.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
|
44 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| Elgin Community College (ECC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
44 | Elgin, Illinois | Public | elgin.edu |
| Macomb Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
44 | Warren, Michigan | Public | macomb.edu |
| Brookline College |
Associate's
|
44 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | brooklinecollege.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
|
43 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | pmi.edu |
| Glendale Career College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
41 | Glendale, California | Private | success.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
|
41 | Chula Vista, California | Private | pmi.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
39 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| Premiere Career College |
Associate's
|
39 | Irwindale, California | Private | premierecollege.edu |
| Berkeley College |
Associate's
|
38 | Woodland Park, New Jersey | Private | berkeleycollege.edu |
| Orange Technical College (OTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
36 | Orlando, Florida | Public | orangetechcollege.net |
| American College of Healthcare and Technology (ACHT) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
36 | Riverside, California | Private | ach.edu |
| Eastwick College |
Associate's
|
35 | Ramsey, New Jersey | Private | eastwickcollege.edu |
| ECPI University (ECPI) |
Associate's
|
35 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | ecpi.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Associate's
|
34 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU Tech) |
Associate's
|
34 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wsutech.edu |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Associate's
|
34 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| Pearl River Community College (PRCC) |
Associate's
|
34 | Poplarville, Mississippi | Public | prcc.edu |
| Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences |
Associate's
|
34 | New York, New York | Private | swedishinstitute.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
34 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
|
34 | Denver, Colorado | Private | pmi.edu |
| Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Griffin, Georgia | Public | sctech.edu |
| Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wcccd.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Associate's
|
33 | Austin, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Brookline College |
Associate's
|
33 | Tucson, Arizona | Private | brooklinecollege.edu |
| Medical Career Institute (MCI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
33 | Ocean, New Jersey | Private | mcinj.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
32 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
32 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | tcatknoxville.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Associate's
|
32 | Fresno, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Erwin Technical College (ETC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
32 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hillsboroughschools.org |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
31 | Rome, Georgia | Public | gntc.edu |
| South College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
31 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Private | south.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
31 | Grand Prairie, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Associate's
|
30 | Houston, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Nevada Career Institute (NCI) |
Associate's
|
30 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | nevadacareerinstitute.com |
| Herzing University |
Associate's
|
30 | Metairie, Louisiana | Private | herzing.edu |
| Carrington College |
Associate's
|
30 | San Jose, California | Private | carrington.edu |
| College of Southern Idaho (CSI) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
29 | Twin Falls, Idaho | Public | csi.edu |
| Southeast Community College Area (SCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
29 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | southeast.edu |
| American Career College |
Associate's
|
29 | Anaheim, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| Southeast Technical College (STC) |
Associate's
|
28 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Public | southeasttech.edu |
| Tarrant County College District (TCCD) |
Associate's
|
28 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | tccd.edu |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
28 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | nwtc.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Associate's
|
28 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Kirkwood Community College |
Associate's
|
27 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Public | kirkwood.edu |
| Saint Paul College |
Associate's
|
27 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Public | saintpaul.edu |
| South Plains College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Levelland, Texas | Public | southplainscollege.edu |
| Davis Technical College (DATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
27 | Kaysville, Utah | Public | davistech.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
26 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| North-West College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
26 | Long Beach, California | Private | nw.edu |
| John C Calhoun State Community College |
Associate's
|
25 | Tanner, Alabama | Public | calhoun.edu |
| Bevill State Community College (BSCC) |
Other Award
|
25 | Jasper, Alabama | Public | bscc.edu |
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College (KCC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | kbcc.cuny.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
25 | Portland, Oregon | Private | concorde.edu |
| Mountainland Technical College (MTECH) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Lehi, Utah | Public | mtec.edu |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock (BHCLR) |
Associate's
|
24 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Private | bhclr.edu |
| Sheridan Technical College (STC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
24 | Hollywood, Florida | Public | sheridantechnicalcollege.edu |
| New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) |
Associate's
|
24 | East Greenwich, Rhode Island | Private | neit.edu |
| Kilgore College |
Associate's
|
24 | Kilgore, Texas | Public | kilgore.edu |
| Tyler Junior College (TJC) |
Associate's
|
24 | Tyler, Texas | Public | tjc.edu |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College (CCMCC) |
Associate's
|
24 | Antioch, California | Private | ccmcc.edu |
| Gadsden State Community College (GSCC) |
Other Award
|
23 | Gadsden, Alabama | Public | gadsdenstate.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Bakersfield, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Associate's
|
23 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Cupey) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
23 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Fortis College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
23 | Houston, Texas | Private | fortis.edu |
| Southwest University |
Associate's
|
23 | El Paso, Texas | Private | southwestuniversity.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
23 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| Carrington College |
Associate's
|
22 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | carrington.edu |
| North-West College (NWC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
22 | West Covina, California | Private | nw.edu |
| Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta Tech) |
Other Award
|
22 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | atlantatech.edu |
| Savannah Technical College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
22 | Savannah, Georgia | Public | savannahtech.edu |
| Delgado Community College |
Associate's
|
22 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | dcc.edu |
| Lansing Community College (LCC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Lansing, Michigan | Public | lcc.edu |
| Siena Heights University (SHU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Adrian, Michigan | Private | sienaheights.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| Choffin Career and Technical Center (Choffin CTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
22 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | choffinctcadulted.com |
| Sinclair Community College |
Associate's
|
22 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| CBD College |
Associate's
|
22 | Los Angeles, California | Private | cbd.edu |
| Lasell University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
21 | Newton, Massachusetts | Private | lasell.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Associate's
|
21 | Rancho Cordova, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Surgical Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Surgical Technology degree?
Salaries for Surgical Technology graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Surgical Technologists earn around $62,830. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $110,787 compared to $55,090 in Oklahoma. Approximately 366,470 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Surgical Technology programs?
Currently 449 accredited institutions offer Surgical Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting (520 graduates), Madisonville Community College (MCC) (130 graduates), and Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (106 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Surgical Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 10,125 in 2010 to 7,626 in 2023-24. This represents a 25% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Surgical Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Surgical Technologists, and Surgical Assistants. Related occupations employ approximately 366,470 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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