Surgical Technologists

Also Called: Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), Operating Room Technician (OR Tech), Surgical Technician, Surgical Technologist (Surgical Tech)

What Surgical Technologists do

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

  • Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
  • Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
  • Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
Industry Areas:

Health Care

Training Program Areas:

Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse • OCT-Only Health Care

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Physical Proximity
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
  • Work With Work Group or Team
  • Contact With Others
  • Frequency of Decision Making

Tools

  • Surgical pneumatic or battery or electric saws or drills or pin drivers or accessories
  • Surgical suction machines or vacuum extractors or ultrasonic surgical aspirators or regulators or accessories
  • Electrosurgical or electrocautery equipment
  • Medical stapler for internal use
  • Surgical power equipment sets or accessories

Technology

Medical software
Electronic medical record EMR software
MEDITECH software
Electronic mail software
Email software
Graphics or photo imaging software
Graphics software

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Monitoring
  • Active Listening
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Coordination
  • Critical Thinking

Knowledge

Business
customer service
Health
medicine and dentistry
Arts and Humanities
English language
Education and Training
teaching and course design

Education

  • 41% Associate's degree
  • 31% Post-secondary certificate
  • 23% Some college, no degree

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

  • Conventional (Organizer)
  • Realistic (Doer)
  • Social (Helper)

Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Integrity
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Values

  • Support
  • Relationships
  • Achievement

Abilities

  • Hand and Finger Use
  • Verbal
  • Attention
  • Ideas and Logic

This is what Surgical Technologists across the country typically make.

$19.54 / hour
$40,640 /year

Entry Level

$29.14 / hour
$60,610 /year

Median Level

$39.98 / hour
$83,150 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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