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- The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there were about 91,250 surgical techs employed in the U.S. 2009. These workers earned an average of about $19.57 per hour, or about $40,710 per year. The top 10 percent earned an average hourly wage of $26.74, or about $55,620 a year, while the lowest 10 percent made an average of $13.42 an hour, or $27,910 a year. The middle 50 percent of surgical techs made an average of $18.94 an hour, or about $39,400 a year.
- Surgical techs employed in the office of other health practitioners sector of the industry had the highest average salaries in 2009, according to the BLS. These workers made an average of $27.03 per hour, or about $56,220 per year. Surgical techs in the employment services sector earned the next highest average salary of $23.18 per hour, or about $48,220 per year.
- Surgical technicians in Maryland, Nevada, Minnesota, the District of Columbia and California had the highest average salaries in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Surgical techs in Maryland made an average salary of $23.47 per hour, or about $48,820 per year, while those in Nevada made about $23.29 per hour, or $48,440 per year. Surgical technicians in California made an average of $22.40 per hour, or about $46,600 per year.
- Surgical technician salaries in some metropolitan areas were much higher than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that surgical techs in San Jose, California, had the highest average salary for any metro-area in 2009, making $27.76 per hour, or $57,730 per year. The next highest paying city, Bethesda, Maryland, had average salaries of $26.46 per hour, or $55,030 per year. San Francisco was the lowest of the five highest-paying metro-areas, with techs earning an hourly wage of $25.29, and an annual income of about $52,600.
National Averages
Highest Paying Industries
Highest Paying States
Highest Paying Metro Areas
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