Finding a career that offers both job security and a high salary is difficult in the current economic climate. Choosing to train as a surgical technologist is a smart choice for two specific reasons: the first is that the massive growth of surgical technologist jobs is expected to continue expanding through 2014. For every single surgeon employed by a hospital, there are at least 5 open position for surgical technologists. This projected number of jobs over the next 6 years is consistently higher for surgical technologists than the number for other professions, guaranteeing that you will be able to find a position relatively quickly after graduation.
The second reason is the salary. Depending on whether or not you choose to become nationally certified will affect the amount of salary you can expect to earn through work as a surgical tech. The numbers, however, are above average compared to other entry-level professions. The top 10% of surgical technologists earn over $52,000 a year, while entry-level and un-certified techs can earn around $30,000 after a few years of work and experience. Nationally certified technologists can expect to earn more.
Salary and Job Potential
Where you decide to work, what medical industry you pursue a career in, and whether or not you decide to become nationally certified will determine what type of position you can take post-graduation and what salary you can expect to earn.
Currently, the most highly paid surgical technologist jobs are in ambulatory health care services, with a median salary of $45,430 a year. The three next highest paid surgical technologist positions are in employment services ($45,000), home health care services ($44,000), diagnostic laboratory services ($43,000), and in private offices of health care professionals such as family physicians and dentists ($42,820). Because most positions for surgical technologists are in hospitals, the best chance for a high salary without certification is in employment services.
Where you choose to work can also have an impact on your salary. Currently, Aaska, Hawaii, California, Connecticut, and Nevada offer the highest pay for surgical technologists, ranging from $50,000 in Alaska to $45,000 in Nevada. Keep in mind the cost of living in the area you choose to work when calculating your yearly income. Experience can also make a difference in pay. As you gain more and more experience and come into your own as a surgical technologist, you will be eligible for higher and higher pay. The median income for a surgical technologist with 20 or more years of experience is $50,000.
Surgical technologists have the unique ability to grow in their career as they gain more and more experience. You may choose to specialize in a certain field of medicine, such as neuroscience, or you may choose move into another sector of health care. The potential surgical technologists have to become highly effective, well-paid members of the medical professional is limitless in the current job market.
Certification
The highest paid jobs are reserved for surgical technologists that have become nationally certified. Becoming nationally certified substantially increases your chances of obtaining a high-paid surgical technologist position in the hospital or private office of your choice. To become certified, you must pass the exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assistants (NBSTSA). If you have graduated from an accredited school or program you are eligible to sit for the exam in the last month of your training or within a year of graduation. To check on your school’s certification, check out the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) website. The CAAHEP has approved over 400 schools to teach surgical technology since 2001, making it very likely that your school has qualified you to take the national exam. Once you have passed your exam, you may use the title CST – Certified Surgical Technologist.
As most surgeons prefer to work with certified surgical techs, and many states are currently working on legislation that would make it compulsory for hospitals to hire only certified techs, becoming certified is almost always the best choice for your future. It will ensure a better position and a higher salary than a diploma or degree alone. The certificate must be renewed every 4 years and requires surgical techs to continue their education as medical advances are made and undergo reexamination.
Top Healthcare Schools
Keiser University – A degree in medical assisting from Keiser University provides the training required to enter the surgical technologist career.
South University – The Associate in Allied Health Science provides students with the necessary skills to work as surgical techs after graduation.
DeVry University – The Associate in Health Information Technology program teaches students how to manage health information databases.
Virginia College – The BS in Health Services Management gives students the pre-requisites they need to work as surgical technologists.
