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Surgical Assistants and Technologists

Summary

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Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3n0UqojVA0.
Quick Facts: Surgical Assistants and Technologists
2025 Median Pay $64,700 per year
$31.10 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Postsecondary nondegree award
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2025 142,800
Job Outlook, 2025–35 5% (Faster than average)
Employment Change, 2025–35 7,400

What Surgical Assistants and Technologists Do

Surgical assistants and technologists help with surgical operations.

Work Environment

Most surgical assistants and technologists work in hospitals. They spend much of their time on their feet.

How to Become a Surgical Assistant or Technologist

Surgical assistants and technologists typically need a certificate or an associate’s degree. Employers may require or prefer that workers have certification. Some states regulate these workers. 

Pay

The median annual wage for surgical assistants was $66,800 in May 2025.

The median annual wage for surgical technologists was $64,650 in May 2025.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of surgical assistants and technologists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 8,600 openings for surgical assistants and technologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for surgical assistants and technologists.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of surgical assistants and technologists with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about surgical assistants and technologists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Surgical Assistants and Technologists Do About this section

Surgical technologists
Surgical technologists may transport patients to surgery.

Surgical assistants and technologists help with surgical operations. Surgical assistants, also called surgical first assistants, help surgeons with tasks such as making incisions, placing clamps, and closing surgical sites. Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and help doctors and first assistants during surgeries.

Duties

Surgical technologists typically do the following:

  • Prepare operating rooms for surgery
  • Sterilize equipment and make sure that there are adequate supplies for surgery
  • Ready patients for surgery, such as by washing and disinfecting incision sites
  • Help surgeons during surgery by passing them instruments and other sterile supplies
  • Count supplies, such as surgical instruments, to ensure that no foreign objects are retained in patients
  • Maintain a sterile environment to prevent patient infection

Before an operation, surgical technologists prepare the operating room by setting up surgical instruments and equipment. They prepare sterile solutions and medications used in surgery and check that all surgical equipment is working properly. Surgical technologists also bring patients to the operating room and get them ready for surgery by positioning them on the table, covering them with sterile drapes, and washing and disinfecting incision sites. And they help the surgical team put on sterile gowns.

During an operation, surgical technologists pass the sterile instruments and supplies to surgeons and first assistants. They might hold retractors, hold internal organs in place during the procedure, or set up robotic surgical equipment. Technologists also may handle specimens taken for laboratory analysis.

After the operation is complete, surgical technologists may apply bandages and other dressings to the incision site. They may also transfer patients to recovery rooms and restock operating rooms after a procedure.

Surgical assistants have a hands-on role, directly assisting surgeons during a procedure. For example, they may help to suction the incision site or suture a wound.

Surgical assistants and technologists work as members of a healthcare team alongside physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, and other healthcare workers.

Work Environment About this section

Surgical technologists
Surgical technologists are trained to maintain the sterile field, preventing the risk of infection during surgery.

Surgical assistants held about 24,400 jobs in 2025. Some of the largest employers of surgical assistants were as follows:

Hospitals; state, local, and private 38%
Offices of dentists 25
Offices of physicians 16
Self-employed workers 8
Outpatient care centers 4

Surgical technologists held about 118,400 jobs in 2025. Some of the largest employers of surgical technologists were as follows:

Hospitals; state, local, and private 71%
Offices of physicians 11
Outpatient care centers 10
Administrative and support services 4
Offices of dentists 2

Ambulatory surgical centers are included in outpatient care centers.

Surgical assistants and technologists wear scrubs and sterile gowns, gloves, caps, and masks while they are in the operating room. Their work may be physically demanding, requiring them to be on their feet for long periods. Surgical technologists also may need to help move patients or lift heavy trays of medical supplies. At times, they may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials.

Injuries and Illnesses

Surgical technologists have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Injuries may occur due to incidents such as slips, falls, and overexertion. Workers reduce the risk of injury by following safety procedures and practices, such as using proper lifting technique and wearing shoes with slip-resistant soles.

Work Schedules

Most surgical assistants and technologists work full time. Surgical assistants and technologists employed in hospitals may work or be on call during nights, weekends, and holidays. They may also be required to work shifts lasting longer than 8 hours.

How to Become a Surgical Assistant or Technologist About this section

Surgical technologists
Surgical assistants and technologists work as members of a healthcare team alongside physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, and other healthcare workers.

Surgical assistants and technologists typically need a certificate or an associate’s degree. Employers may require or prefer that workers have certification. Some states regulate these workers.

Education

Surgical assistants and technologists typically need a certificate or associate’s degree from an accredited program. Many community colleges and vocational schools, as well as some universities and hospitals, offer accredited surgical technology or surgical assisting programs.

Surgical assistants may complete a formal education program in surgical assisting. Others may work as surgical technologists and receive additional on-the-job training to become first assistants.

Surgical technology education includes courses such as anatomy, microbiology, and physiology. These workers also learn about the care and safety of patients, sterilization techniques, how to set up technical or robotic equipment, and preventing and controlling infections. In addition to classroom study, students gain hands-on experience in supervised clinical settings.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Certification may be beneficial for finding a job, and some employers may require it. Surgical assistants and technologists may earn certification through credentialing organizations.

Certification typically requires completing an accredited formal education program or military training program and passing an exam. In addition, many jobs require that surgical assistants and technologists become certified in CPR or basic life support (BLS), or both. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.

Some states have regulations governing the work of surgical assistants and technologists. For more information, contact your state licensing agency.

Important Qualities

The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page.

Communication. To prevent infections or other complications, surgical assistants and technologists must relay any issues that arise during surgery to the other members of the healthcare team.

Detail oriented. Surgical assistants and technologists must pay close attention to their work. For example, surgical technologists need to provide the correct sterile equipment for surgeons during an operation.

Dexterity. Surgical assistants and technologists should be comfortable working with their hands. They must provide needed equipment quickly.

Integrity. Because they are trusted to help during surgical procedures, surgical assistants and technologists must be ethical and honest.

Listening skills. Responding to requests from surgeons and others on the surgical team requires the ability to listen to and understand spoken directions.

Physical stamina. Surgical assistants and technologists should be comfortable standing for extended periods.

Stress-management skills. Working in an operating room can be stressful. Surgical assistants and technologists should work well under pressure.

Advancement

Surgical assistants and technologists may choose to advance to other healthcare occupations, such as registered nurse. Advancement to other healthcare occupations usually requires additional education, training, and/or certifications or licenses. A technologist may also choose to become a postsecondary teacher of health specialties.

Pay About this section

Surgical Assistants and Technologists

Median annual wages, May 2025

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations

$86,530

Surgical assistants

$66,800

Surgical assistants and technologists

$64,700

Surgical technologists

$64,650

Total, all occupations

$50,980

 

Note:
Data are from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The median annual wage for surgical assistants was $66,800 in May 2025. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,690, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $107,610.

The median annual wage for surgical technologists was $64,650 in May 2025. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,940, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $96,940.

In May 2025, the median annual wages for surgical assistants in some of the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Offices of physicians $80,210
Hospitals; state, local, and private 76,740
Outpatient care centers 70,480
Offices of dentists 56,100

In May 2025, the median annual wages for surgical technologists in some of the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Hospitals; state, local, and private $65,020
Outpatient care centers 64,670
Offices of physicians 64,590
Administrative and support services 62,400
Offices of dentists 48,190

Most surgical assistants and technologists work full time. Surgical assistants and technologists employed in hospitals may work or be on call during nights, weekends, and holidays. They may also be required to work shifts lasting longer than 8 hours.

Job Outlook About this section

Surgical Assistants and Technologists

Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations

8%

Surgical assistants

6%

Surgical assistants and technologists

5%

Surgical technologists

5%

Total, all occupations

3%

 

Note:
Percent change in employment is rounded to the nearest whole number.
All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Overall employment of surgical assistants and technologists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 8,600 openings for surgical assistants and technologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

The aging population is expected to increase the demand for surgical procedures, which should result in a greater need for surgical assistants and technologists. A rise in the number of surgeries among all age groups also is expected to support job growth.

Heightened demand for these workers is expected in outpatient settings, such as ambulatory surgery centers. These facilities are seeing an increase in the number of surgeries because of advances in medical technology and changes in insurers’ policies.

Employment projections data for surgical assistants and technologists, 2025–35
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2025 Projected Employment, 2035 Change, 2025–35 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric

Note:
Employment subcategories do not necessarily add to higher categories due to rounding.
Employment and projected employment change values are rounded to the nearest 100 or percent.
Data is unavailable for values denoted with a "—".
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Surgical assistants and technologists

 — 142,800 150,200 5 7,400 —

Surgical assistants

 29-9093 24,400 25,900 6 1,500 Get data

Surgical technologists

 29-2055 118,400 124,300 5 5,900 Get data

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below goes to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Use the dropdown boxes to select an occupation.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at https://projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of surgical assistants and technologists.

Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Help on Entry-Level Education 2025 MEDIAN PAY Help on Median Pay
A cardiovascular technician looking at a computer screen while a patient walks on a treadmill during a stress test Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians conduct tests and assist in procedures involving the heart or lungs.

 Associate's degree $74,310
Medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

 Bachelor's degree $62,930
Dental assistants Dental Assistants

Dental assistants provide patient care, take x rays, keep records, and schedule appointments.

 Postsecondary nondegree award $48,070
Diagnostic medical sonographers Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Diagnostic medical sonographers operate ultrasound equipment to create images of inside the body.

 Associate's degree $96,590
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide basic medical care.

 Postsecondary nondegree award $64,400
Medical assistants Medical Assistants

Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks, such as scheduling appointments and taking patients’ vital signs.

 Postsecondary nondegree award $45,690
Physicians and surgeons Physicians and Surgeons

Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.

 Doctoral or professional degree $275,930
Registered nurses Registered Nurses

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions.

 Bachelor's degree $97,550
Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Surgical Assistants and Technologists,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/surgical-technologists.htm (visited August 27, 2026).

Last modified date: August 27, 2026

What They Do

The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties.

Work Environment

The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face.

How to Become One

The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation.

Pay

The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH.

State & Area Data

The State and Area Data tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings.

Similar Occupations

The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile.

Contacts for More Information

The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET).

2025 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2025, the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

Work experience in a related occupation

Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education.

Number of Jobs, 2025

The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2025, which is the base year of the 2025–35 employment projections.

Job Outlook, 2025-35

The projected percent change in employment from 2025 to 2035. The average growth rate for all occupations is 3 percent.

Employment Change, 2025-35

The projected numeric change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Employment Change, projected 2025-35

The projected numeric change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

Growth Rate (Projected)

The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2025 to 2035.

Projected Number of New Jobs

The projected numeric change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

Projected Growth Rate

The projected percent change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

2025 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2025, the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.