Surgical Tech Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) surgical tech in the US earns $31.08 an hour, or $64,650 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 117,460 jobs (May 2025, occupation: surgical technologists). The middle half earn between $54,690 and $79,750 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $96,940.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $54,126 a year ($4,511 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Alaska ($64,982 a year) and lowest in Alabama ($39,845).
Surgical Tech pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $22.09 | $45,940 | $39,093 |
| 25th percentile | $26.29 | $54,690 | $46,123 |
| Median (half earn more) | $31.08 | $64,650 | $54,126 |
| 75th percentile | $38.34 | $79,750 | $64,934 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $46.61 | $96,940 | $77,027 |
The average (mean) is $68,710 a year ($33.03 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 29-2055. Source
Surgical Tech salary by state
The highest median pay for surgical techs is in Hawaii ($82,640), Oregon ($81,390), California ($81,310), Massachusetts ($80,870), Alaska ($80,390). The lowest is in West Virginia ($49,110), Alabama ($49,420), Mississippi ($49,820).
The most surgical techs work in California (11,920), Texas (10,160), Florida (9,120).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Alaska ($64,982), Washington ($62,117), Nevada ($61,930), Massachusetts ($61,836), Hawaii ($61,823). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $23.76 | $49,420 | $39,845 | 2,480 |
| Alaska | $38.65 | $80,390 | $64,982 | 310 |
| Arizona | $34.74 | $72,260 | $58,220 | 2,410 |
| Arkansas | $27.60 | $57,410 | $46,672 | 1,640 |
| California | $39.09 | $81,310 | $61,326 | 11,920 |
| Colorado | $36.41 | $75,730 | $58,683 | 2,100 |
| Connecticut | $38.41 | $79,890 | $60,864 | 1,220 |
| Delaware | $29.93 | $62,250 | $49,171 | 340 |
| District of Columbia | $37.27 | $77,520 | $63,365* | 340 |
| Florida | $30.02 | $62,440 | $52,350 | 9,120 |
| Georgia | $30.77 | $64,000 | $51,159 | 4,380 |
| Hawaii | $39.73 | $82,640 | $61,823 | 290 |
| Idaho | $34.88 | $72,550 | $56,879 | 1,100 |
| Illinois | $31.08 | $64,650 | $51,071 | 3,570 |
| Indiana | $30.89 | $64,250 | $50,662 | 2,680 |
| Iowa | $29.11 | $60,550 | $49,065 | 950 |
| Kansas | $29.13 | $60,590 | $48,283 | 1,200 |
| Kentucky | $29.08 | $60,490 | $48,784 | 1,440 |
| Louisiana | $27.58 | $57,370 | $46,902 | 2,230 |
| Maine | $30.22 | $62,860 | $49,617 | 470 |
| Maryland | $33.16 | $68,970 | $52,392 | 1,880 |
| Massachusetts | $38.88 | $80,870 | $61,836 | 2,220 |
| Michigan | $30.44 | $63,320 | $50,617 | 3,840 |
| Minnesota | $38.56 | $80,200 | $60,247 | 1,770 |
| Mississippi | $23.95 | $49,820 | $40,962 | 1,110 |
| Missouri | $29.39 | $61,130 | $49,374 | 2,100 |
| Montana | $29.31 | $60,960 | $49,055 | 490 |
| Nebraska | $30.71 | $63,880 | $51,209 | 770 |
| Nevada | $36.29 | $75,480 | $61,930 | 1,110 |
| New Hampshire | $36.08 | $75,050 | $61,628 | 370 |
| New Jersey | $37.12 | $77,210 | $59,403 | 2,780 |
| New Mexico | $24.90 | $51,790 | $42,147 | 540 |
| New York | $38.25 | $79,560 | $60,694 | 6,540 |
| North Carolina | $29.29 | $60,920 | $49,154 | 4,400 |
| North Dakota | $29.63 | $61,630 | $51,622 | 370 |
| Ohio | $30.01 | $62,420 | $50,850 | 3,730 |
| Oklahoma | $29.42 | $61,190 | $49,136 | 1,940 |
| Oregon | $39.13 | $81,390 | $59,999 | 1,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $30.14 | $62,690 | $50,583 | 4,490 |
| Rhode Island | $35.64 | $74,130 | $57,423 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $29.89 | $62,170 | $49,733 | 2,680 |
| South Dakota | $28.79 | $59,880 | $50,294 | 600 |
| Tennessee | $29.10 | $60,530 | $50,816 | 3,310 |
| Texas | $31.35 | $65,210 | $54,576 | 10,160 |
| Utah | $30.15 | $62,710 | $49,786 | 1,170 |
| Vermont | $29.17 | $60,670 | $49,122 | 140 |
| Virginia | $32.49 | $67,580 | $53,301 | 1,910 |
| Washington | $37.15 | $77,270 | $62,117 | 2,510 |
| West Virginia | $23.61 | $49,110 | $40,233 | 580 |
| Wisconsin | $35.64 | $74,130 | $57,380 | 2,180 |
| Wyoming | $28.29 | $58,840 | $49,458 | 210 |
Overtime and pay rules for surgical techs
Surgical techs who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. Hospitals and residential care facilities may instead use the "8 and 80" system: overtime after 8 hours in a day or 80 hours in a fixed 14-day period, agreed with the employee in advance. Source The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a surgical tech's pay
On the median $64,650, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 16.3% of pay for a single filer: $5,578 of income tax and $4,946 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $48,550, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($3,232 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $388, so it costs about $2,845 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed surgical techs are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $63,970 | — |
| Plumber | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 | — |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $31 an hour is how much a year.
Surgical Tech salary questions
How much does a surgical tech make?
The median pay is $31.08 an hour, or $64,650 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $45,940 and the top 10% more than $96,940.
How much does a surgical tech make after taxes?
About $54,126 a year, or $2,082 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Alabama, at that state's own median pay, it is about $39,845.
How much does a surgical tech make a month?
About $5,388 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $4,511 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays surgical techs the most?
Hawaii, with a median of $82,640 a year ($39.73 an hour). Next are Oregon ($81,390) and California ($81,310). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Alaska.
How much does a surgical tech make an hour?
The median is $31.08 an hour. The middle half earn $26.29 to $38.34, and the top 10% more than $46.61.
Do surgical techs get paid overtime?
Surgical techs who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. Hospitals and residential care facilities may instead use the "8 and 80" system: overtime after 8 hours in a day or 80 hours in a fixed 14-day period, agreed with the employee in advance. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.