Surgery technicians, also known as surgical technologists, scrubs, or operating room techs, help surgeons and nurses in an operating room. They prepare the room and equipment, transport patients and observe their vital signs during procedures. Professional training, up to an associate's degree, is required. Many employers prefer those with voluntary certification.
Basics
As of May 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal that the median compensation of surgery techs is $18.94 hourly or $39,400 yearly. The bottom 10 percent make $13.42 or $27,910 and the upper 10 percent receive $26.74 or $55,620.
Industries
The industry type determines salaries. The top five highest-paying for this job are offices of health practitioners, in which rates are $27.03 or $56,220; employment services, in which rates are $23.18 or $48,220; colleges, universities and professional schools, in which rates are $21.13 or $43,960; specialty hospitals except for psychiatric and substance abuse, in which rates are $20.94 or $43,560; and ambulatory health care services, in which rates are $20.82 or $43,300.
States
The state in which the job is performed can affect salaries. The best five states for pay are Maryland, with salaries at $23.47 or $48,820; Nevada, with salaries at $23.29 or $48,440; Minnesota, with salaries at $22.88 or $47,590; District of Columbia, with salaries at $22.78 or $47,390; and California, with salaries at $22.40 or $46,600.
Cities
The city of employment can decide compensation. The top five cities for salaries are San Jose, California, with a pay of $27.76 or $57,730; Bethesda, Maryland, with a pay of $26.46 or $55,030; Santa Rosa, California, with a pay of $26.09 or $54,260; Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, with a pay of $25.99 or $54,050; and San Francisco, with a pay of $25.29 or $52,600.
Employment Levels
Areas with the greatest number of jobs do not offer the best income. For example, the industries with the most jobs are general medical and surgical hospitals with a pay of $19.39 or $40,330; and the offices of physicians with a pay of $19.83 or $41,260. The states offering the highest concentration of surgery techs are Tennessee, in which compensation is $17.98 or $37,400 and Kentucky, in which compensation is $16.92 or $35,200. The cities having the most employment are Florence, South Carolina, in which rates are $16.69 or $34,710 and Owensboro, Kentucky, in which rates are $15.13 or $31,470.
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