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Surgical Technologists in Iowa
Want to work as a Surgical Technologists in Iowa? Below are the key facts. 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. Excludes “Surgical Assistants” (29-9093).
What do Surgical Technologists Make in Iowa?
For surgical technologists working in Iowa, wages run about $53,920 per year (or roughly $25.92/hour).Earnings range from $41,880 at the 10th percentile to $65,240 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,880 | $20.13 |
| 25th percentile | $48,700 | $23.42 |
| Median (50th) | $53,920 | $25.92 |
| 75th percentile | $61,310 | $29.48 |
| 90th percentile | $65,240 | $31.36 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Iowa compared to the national average — is 0.63, meaning fewer surgical technologists per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, surgical technologists earn a median of $73,045 per year ($35.12/hour), below the Iowa median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 1,876,778 surgical technologists across the United States. In Iowa alone, about 730 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 1,900 surgical technologists.
Top Iowa Metros for Surgical Technologists
These are the Iowa metros with the most surgical technologists in Iowa.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 120 | $60,670 |
| Iowa City, IA | 90 | $48,700 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 80 | $53,650 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 70 | $53,220 |
| Ames, IA | 40 | $39,400 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 40 | $52,100 |
Top States for Surgical Technologists Employment
The table below shows the states where the most surgical technologists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 10,570 |
| Texas | 9,870 |
| Florida | 8,620 |
| New York | 5,910 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,710 |
| Georgia | 4,100 |
| Michigan | 3,910 |
| Ohio | 3,800 |
| Illinois | 3,730 |
| North Carolina | 3,720 |
| Wisconsin | 2,770 |
| New Jersey | 2,720 |
| Indiana | 2,610 |
| Alabama | 2,610 |
| South Carolina | 2,480 |
| Tennessee | 2,470 |
| Washington | 2,380 |
| Colorado | 2,310 |
| Virginia | 2,250 |
| Massachusetts | 2,240 |
Highest-Paying States for Surgical Technologists
Where surgical technologists earn the most: surgical technologists.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $81,120 |
| Connecticut | $80,590 |
| Oregon | $79,410 |
| Alaska | $79,040 |
| Massachusetts | $78,300 |
| Minnesota | $77,950 |
| Nevada | $76,740 |
| Hawaii | $76,200 |
| New York | $75,250 |
| Washington | $73,460 |
Skills
Top surgical technologists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for surgical technologists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, surgical technologists typically:
- 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.
- Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.
- Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
- Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.
- Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.
- Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
- Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
- Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, or diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery.
- Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: MEDITECH software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
Related Careers
Careers similar to surgical technologists include:
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Radiation Therapists
- Respiratory Therapists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Anesthesiologists
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
Also Known As
Cardiovascular Operating Room Technologist (CVOR Technologist), Certified Surgical Technician, Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), Operating Room Surgical Technician (OR St), Operating Room Surgical Technologist, Operating Room Technician (OR Tech), Operating Room Technologist (OR Tech), Scrub Technician, Surgery Technician (Surgery Tech), Surgical Orderly, Surgical Scrub Technician, Surgical Scrub Technologist (Surgical Scrub Tech), Surgical Technician, Surgical Technologist (Surgical Tech), Travel OR Tech (Travel Operating Room Technician).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-2055.00
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