As the nation faces significant economic challenges and an uncertain job market, it is important to pursue careers in robust fields that boast strong job prospects. A career option you may want to evaluate during these times is in the field of surgical technology. Job prospects are expected to be excellent for surgical technicians over the coming decade. As the aging members of the baby boom generation will require extensive medical care and attention over the coming years, quality and competent surgical technicians will be in high demand. As a surgical tech, you can expect to become an integral role before, during and after surgeries. You can expect to prep the OR prior to operations, sterilize surgical instruments, assist the primary surgeon during operations, restock the operating room after operations and transfer patients to the recovery room. If you are considering a career in surgical technology, you must surely be interested in understanding the top employers for surgical techs.

Let’s take a look at the top five industries in terms of employment for surgical technicians. The first is general medical and surgical hospitals with a total employment of roughly 64,000 and average annual salary of roughly $41,000. The next industry is offices of physicians with a total employment of roughly 11,000 and average annual salary of roughly $43,000. The third of these industries is outpatient care centers with a total employment of roughly 8,000 and average annual salary of $43,000. The fourth of these industries is offices of dentists with a total employment of roughly 4,000 and average annual salary of roughly $37,000. Finally, other specialties encompass roughly 1,000 surgical technicians with an average annual salary of roughly $47,000. As far as salary expectations are concerned, geography, work experience, education and training will all play important roles in determining your initial earning potential.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in surgical technology, you will surely want to understand the top employers for surgical techs. The top five industries include: General medical and surgical hospitals, offices of physicians, outpatient care centers, offices of dentists and other specialties.

If you’re interested in planning for a career as a surgical tech, it can be very helpful to get a pulse of the expected outlook for surgical tech jobs over the coming years. In this article, we’ll take a brief look at the surgical tech jobs outlook for the next decade as well as the factors which may have an impact on the availability of open positions and the surgical tech salary.

Surgical Tech Jobs Outlook

As of the last complete U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, there were over 91,000 surgical tech jobs throughout the country. While over 70% of these jobs are located in hospital operating rooms and birth and delivery floors, a growing number of opportunities are developing in many other health care areas as well. The BLS expects an increase of approximately 25% in the number of available surgical tech jobs through the year 2018, which is a very rapid clip for expansion. This makes becoming a surgical technologist a very attractive career choice for anyone who is interested in finding a new profession in the health care industry.

Factors Which Impact the Number of Surgical Tech Jobs

There are two primary factors which will lead to a significant increase in the number of surgical tech jobs over the next decade. The first is the aging of the large segment of our population referred to as the “baby boomer” generation. With this large number of people reaching older ages, the demand for surgical procedures will grow significantly over the next few years to a level which the health care industry has not yet experienced.

The second major factor leading to the increase in employment opportunities for surgical technologists is the advancement of surgical procedure technology. Major advances in the way that lasers and other technologies are used to treat patients surgically are allowing surgeons to conduct procedures with a smaller number of support personnel and with less time required to complete them. This has led to an overall increase in the demand for surgical techs in the facilities that are using these advanced procedures.

If you are seriously considering a career as a surgical tech, the forecast has made this a very exciting time to gain entry into the profession.

Thank you for visiting the Surgical Tech Salary and Career Center! Our mission is to provide you with many valuable resources to assist you in preparing for an exciting career as a surgical technologist. This profession can be one of the most challenging and rewarding in the health care industry.

The career outlook the surgical tech over the next decade looks outstanding and there has never been a better time to prepare for entry into the profession. Jobs for surgical techs are expected to expand much faster than average for all other professions, reaching an anticipated 25% growth rate over the next few years according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a large percentage of our population ages over the next decade, the number of surgical procedures being performed in health care facilities throughout the country will reach unprecedented levels, leading to an ever-increasing number of employment opportunities for the surgical tech.

The career will experience job growth in many different health care environments as well, including hospitals, private practices, ambulatory centers, and outpatient treatment facilities. While the largest number of surgical techs will continue to find employment in hospital operating and delivery rooms, advanced medical specializations will lead to an increased demand for technologists in many other areas within the health care industry.

The surgical tech salary outlook is very positive as well. Along with the job growth we expect to see within the industry, median pay levels should continue to grow faster than average. Currently, the surgical tech salary varies widely by the state as well as the employment setting, however, the median earnings are right at $38,740 across all employers and locations. The surgical tech salary can increase dramatically if you choose the specialize in a certain area of patient treatment.

Again, if you’re considering a rewarding career as a surgical tech, now is a great time to get started on the path in this profession. With very attractive salary and employment prospects, you’ll have a great chance of creating a long-term career which will keep you fulfilled for years to come. We hope that you find this site a valuable resource to assist you in preparing for your own career as a surgical technologist.

One of the fastest growing careers available in the health field in 2011 is that of a surgical tech and the employment prospects and surgical tech salary will both increase in coming years. The surgical tech prepares the OR for surgeries, prepare and take patients to the surgery operating room and fix equipment and lights for optimal conditions. Additionally, they will pass instruments and supplies to the surgeons, cut the sutures and hold the retractors. For all of these duties, the surgical tech salary can range between $25,000 and $50,000 per year.

With an almost 25% growth rate, the aspiring surgical tech can expect an excellent job rate in the coming years. The surgical tech salary will average out at around $35,000/per yer, but you can expect to receive advancement, promotions and increased pay with extra training and certifications. Additional considerations that can affect the surgical tech salary is where you work. For example, states like New York, Florida and California will typically pay higher salaries than states like Oklahoma, Virginia and South Carolina.

The trends are spiking where the surgical tech salary is concerned. The starting salary, which tends to start around $24,000 can hit as high as the mid 50s without any extra training. With the growing elderly population, the demand, salaries and job opportunities are expected only to rise. As the next six years approach, the need is expected to rise by approximately 25%.

If you’re looking for a position as a surgical tech, you can expect most of the higher paying positions to be found in hospitals. However, opportunities will also exist in other areas such as outpatient care centers, doctor’s offices, and surgical centers. In many cases, the newcomer to the field will start in a smaller arena and move up to the higher payer positions in the hospitals.

The job outlook is promising and expected only to get better. It’s an excellent career choice for the individual who is intelligent, but might not have a degree. While they’re preferred, a college degree is not required for this position. It’s a great entry level position into the medical field and offers a great opportunity for advancement. The surgical tech salary offers room to grow and a good starting position.

Becoming a surgical tech means that you are a member of an operating room team. It’s a well paying career choice that yields a decent surgical tech salary. Before surgery takes place, a surgical tech prepares the surgical equipment and instruments that the surgeon will need for operating on patients. They also set up the surgical drapes and sterile solutions. Techs are responsible for making sure that everything is in proper working order for surgery. In addition to setting up the operating room equipment, the surgical tech prepares the patient for their operation by washing and shaving them. They also disinfect the incision area so that it is ready for the surgeon, and transport the patient to the assigned OR room.

When the patient is in surgery, the tech is the one who hands the instruments to the surgeon. A surgical tech assists with counting the supplies and may even cut sutures for the doctor as needed. When a situation calls for an specimen to be further evaluated, a surgical tech may be the one who delivers it to the lab, and disposes of it after the doctor has finished with it. The tech receives a generous surgical tech salary for his job, for a very good reason.

After surgery has been completed, the tech attends to the job of restocking supplies in the operating room. They may also be the one who transfers the patient to the recovery area when their operation is over. A surgical tech salary is well earned, as they stand on their feet for long hours and must be alert to everything going on in the operating room. They usually work 40 hours in a week, although they may be on call or rotate schedules during holidays and weekends, or evenings as needed.

The job of a surgical tech is a rewarding one. Helping doctors attend to injured and ailing patients can provide satisfaction, and make the tech feel needed as well. It is a demanding career and the surgical tech salary reflects the fact that they work hard at their job. The surgical tech salary is based upon their education and experience level and there is plenty of room for advancement.

The job field of surgical technologists is one of the fastest growing area in the medical arena today. Listed at number 122 of the “Best 500 Jobs”, the number of job openings, the surgical tech salary and the rate of growth are all on the rise. The trend shows that employment in the surgical tech field is expected to rise a minimum of 25% over the next seven years.

The rise in the number of jobs in the surgical tech field is expected to grow faster than the national average in the coming decade. While no college degree is necessary in this field, the job opportunities will favor those who have certification and are willing to relocate to various cities around the country. Plus, the job seeker should keep in mind that the surgical tech salary will be higher to the applicant who has a college degree and experience.

Due to the aging population facing medical care in the coming year, the employment opportunities of surgical techs is projected to grow much more rapidly than that for all occupations as a whole. As the number of surgical procedures is anticipated as the baby boom era ages, one can expect the largest number of job openings to spring open in areas where the baby boomers reside. Such states include, Florida, Arizona, California and southern Alabama.

Another reason why the job outlook is so optimistic and the surgical tech salary will continue to rise is that with the advent of fiber optics and the use of lasers in operating procedures have instigated a larger job description and opportunities for work for the surgical tech. The surgical tech can now assist in a much greater number of procedures and operations. Look for the job growth locations to continue to be in hospitals as the main employer of surgical techs. The hospitals will increasingly be using surgical techs to replace the nurse in the operating room as a way of reducing costs. However, there are also an escalating number of jobs with a well-paying surgical tech salary available in doctor offices, out patient care centers and surgery centers.

Whether you are currently in school to become a surgical tech or you are thinking about doing it sometime in the future, it’s important to have an idea about the job outlook and how it affects the surgical tech salary. One thing to keep in mind is the fact that there will always be openings all over the country. If you are flexible and don’t mind moving, you will get hired and get to start enjoying the surgical tech salary. If you want to get employed in a specific location, it will be a little more challenging and you might have to wait for openings but it is possible.

One of the best ways to guarantee a position in the area of your choice as a surgical tech is from your externship. Part of the schooling process of becoming a surgical tech involves working as an intern for a hospital or physician’s office. This is an extremely important time, not only because you will get hands on experience necessary for the job, but because it’s the perfect time to make contacts and get your foot in the door. Most people that are looking to get jobs as surgical technologists find that employers are mostly concerned about experience.

Since the employers of surgical technologists want experienced candidates, it can seem hard to get that first job. That’s why it’s so important to take advantage of your externship. Continue doing it as long as you can to build up your experience level, and if you can’t get a job at the hospital or office you were working at you can still ask for recommendations. By being able to put that you have a good amount of experience as a surgical technologist on your resume, you will be far more likely to get a job than someone without experience.

There are several ways to go about getting a job as a surgical tech if your externship doesn’t turn into one. You can call your local hospitals to see if there are any openings and go on any of the many job sites on the Internet as well. Remember, the more flexible you are to move the easier it will be to get hired quickly.

If you are a looking for a solid career that promises job security and the ability to help people daily, then the health industry is one of the best places to start and the surgical tech salary can be rewarding. There is no denying the fact that people will always need healthcare. Of course, most of the careers in the health industry require quite a bit of schooling. There are some that don’t, however, such as a surgical technologist. When you consider the fact that a surgical tech salary can exceed $50,000 a year, you will realize why it’s a great professional to get into.

A surgical tech can be employed in a number of different places. Most commonly, you will find them in hospitals and physicians offices. They are also employed at outpatient centers and even dental offices. A typical day begins checking surgery case carts to make sure that they have everything needed for the surgeries that the technologist has been assigned to assist with that day. Before each surgery, the team will brief everyone to make sure they know exactly what is going on. The next step is to sterilize the the instruments and supplies before surgery. In surgery, it is important to anticipate the surgeon’s needs in order to be ready as soon as they want an instrument.

The work environment of a surgical tech can be very demanding and challenging, but most in the profession agree that it is extremely rewarding. Surgical techs enjoy fantastic benefits in addition to the surgical tech salary, and schedules can be quite flexible depending on where you work. If you work at a physician’s office, the hours will typically be Monday through Friday, from 9AM to 5PM, with the occasional Saturday morning. In a hospital, surgical techs usually have day and night shifts and can work any day of the week.

So if you want to work in the health industry and desire to directly impact people, then a career as a surgical tech might be for you. The surgical tech salary is very impressive for the short amount of schooling required for the job, but you will earn every bit of that money as there is never a dull moment.

If you’re looking for a job that is truly up and coming, you may want to consider the surgical technologist position as well as the surgical tech salary. Surgical techs typically work under the watchful eyes of surgeons and RNs inside the operating room. Not only do they prepare the operation theater for surgery, but they also prepare and take patients into surgery. The surgical tech will adjust the equipment, prepare the lighting, pass surgical instruments and supplies to the surgeons and their assistants, cut sutures, tie stitches and hold the medical retractors.

But that’s not all! For the surgical tech salary, the technician will also keep track of materials needed for surgery, counting supplies, instruments, needles, sponges, etc. A shift may begin with the check of your surgery cases and the preparation of the carts with all the needed supplies and instruments. You’ll be included in the meetings that discuss the cases and what the surgery will involve so that you’re prepared.

It’s true that you will earn your surgical tech salary with many varied tasks. You’ll be in charge of opening the sterilized supplies and instruments, scrubbing in and setting up the instruments in an organized manner. Customer care is also part of your job description as you will also do your best to put the patient at ease and make them as comfortable as possible.

Attention to detail is very important in the daily life of the surgical tech and the reason why the surgical tech salary is higher than most other non-degreed professionals. The life of patients is in their hands and because of these important details, the surgical tech salary is higher than many other technical positions. One of the reasons why this position is increasing in number is that the surgical tech salary is still lower than the emergency room nurse’s and it’s a savings to the hospitals to replace nurses with surgical techs.

The day of a typical surgical tech can start at all hours of the day and night as emergency surgeries often pop up, they’re scheduled for early mornings and prep work must be done before the surgeries can begin. They often can include weekends and holidays, so the ideal candidate will be able to handle a flexible work-schedule.

In the following video, staff members at the Duke University Medical Center discuss a typical day as a surgical technologist: