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Surgical Technologists in Virginia

Want to work as a Surgical Technologists in Virginia? 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 Virginia?

For a surgical technologists working in Virginia, the median annual wage is $63,460 per year (or about $30.51/hour).Annual wages span from $45,960 at the 10th percentile to $98,450 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$45,960	$22.10
25th percentile	$54,140	$26.03
Median (50th)	$63,460	$30.51
75th percentile	$80,330	$38.62
90th percentile	$98,450	$47.33

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Virginia compared to the national average — is 0.75, suggesting 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), lower than the Virginia median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 1,876,778 surgical technologists across the United States. In Virginia alone, approximately 2,250 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,900 surgical technologists.

Top Virginia Metros for Surgical Technologists

The largest metro-area employers of surgical technologists in Virginia.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	530	$61,810
Richmond, VA	470	$61,050
Roanoke, VA	190	$60,700
Charlottesville, VA	130	$65,390
Lynchburg, VA	90	$59,270

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

The highest-paying states for 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

The most important surgical technologists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core 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

Common tasks include:

• 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

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: MEDITECH software

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

• Allied Health Professions
• Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science
• Allied Health Services

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