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Surgical Technologists in South Carolina

Surgical Technologists in South Carolina

Considering working as a Surgical Technologists in South Carolina? Here’s what the data says. 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 South Carolina?

The surgical technologists working in South Carolina, wages run about $60,780 per year (or about $29.22/hour).Pay can range from $35,270 at the 10th percentile to $72,640 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $35,270 $16.96
25th percentile $50,110 $24.09
Median (50th) $60,780 $29.22
75th percentile $64,790 $31.15
90th percentile $72,640 $34.92
Salary ranges for Surgical Technologists in South Carolina

The job concentration index in South Carolina nationwide is 1.48, meaning that surgical technologists are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, surgical technologists earn a median of $73,045 per year ($35.12/hour), below the South Carolina median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 1,876,778 surgical technologists nationwide. In South Carolina alone, about 2,480 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 1,900 surgical technologists.

Forecasted number of jobs for Surgical Technologists

Top South Carolina Metros for Surgical Technologists

The largest metro-area employers of surgical technologists in South Carolina.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC 420 $60,780
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 370 $65,580
Columbia, SC 370 $57,570
Spartanburg, SC 270 $61,390
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC 260 $46,890
Florence, SC 240 $64,790
Sumter, SC 50 $65,090
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC 40 $61,910

Top States for Surgical Technologists Employment

These states have the highest employment of 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:

Monitoring  3.8 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.4 / 5
0
5
Operations Monitoring  3.2 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.1 / 5
0
5
Coordination  3.1 / 5
0
5
Time Management  3.1 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Customer and Personal Service  3.7 / 5
0
5
Medicine and Dentistry  3.7 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.5 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  3.1 / 5
0
5
Public Safety and Security  2.9 / 5
0
5
Psychology  2.9 / 5
0
5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for surgical technologists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Problem Sensitivity  3.8 / 5
0
5
Near Vision  3.8 / 5
0
5
Speech Recognition  3.6 / 5
0
5
Arm-Hand Steadiness  3.5 / 5
0
5
Selective Attention  3.4 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

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

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: MEDITECH software

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

Other careers like surgical technologists include:

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

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