Income Potential for a Surgical Technician
Surgical Technican Salary Information
The income potential for a surgical technician depends largely on several factors, such as education, level of experience or training, employment location, certifications completed and other case-by-case factors, such as on-call work or graveyard shifts. Generally, the income potential for a surgical technician ranges between $21,000 and $43,000, with an average of $35,000 per year. According to the Association of Surgical Technologists, the average hourly pay of a surgical tech is priced at $12 to $18, nationally.
If you plan to work with doctor's offices, orthodontist's clinic or other private surgical institutions, expect an income potential for a surgical technician to reach approximately $34,000. If you wish to become an employee of the federal government, expect a salary that starts with $18,000 per year. However, if you plan to become employed with surgical clinics and general medical hospitals, then an income potential for a surgical technician would be a little lower, around $30,000 per annum.
The income potential for a surgical technician who is just starting his or her career could range from $12 to $18 per hour. Most surgical technician jobs require a high school diploma, associate degree or a certificate from an accredited college by the CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs). However, be aware that once you have received a CST (certified surgical technologist) designation, the income potential for a surgical technician starts at $18 per hour and up.
The increase of income potential for a surgical technician gives a positive outlook. It is estimated that career opportunities in the field of surgical technology will grow by a 30% rate over the next ten years. While the demand for surgical technicians increases, the number of opportunities increases as well and employment offers are packed with higher salaries. As such, by 2010, the income potential for a surgical technician may surpass the salaries of other professions in the healthcare field.
