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Surgical Tech Salary in RI 2024

February 4, 2022

Did you know that the average surgical tech salary in RI is about $10,000 higher than the national average?

If you’re working as a surgical tech or hope to become one and are unsure about the compensation that you’re entitled to, then check out the guide below. We’ll take a deep dive into surgical technologist salaries in RI.

A Guide to Surgical Technologist Salaries in Rhode Island

The at the (BLS) produces salary data, employment, and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations in all the states across the United States.

These are the latest surgical technologist salary estimates in RI according to BLS:

How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make Per Hour?

Surgical technologists in Rhode Island earn an .

However, the hourly wages can differ according to your qualification, skills, and years of experience.

How Much Do Surgical Techs Make Per Year?

The average salary for a surgical tech in Rhode Island was in May 2020.

During the same period, the top 10 percent highest-earning professionals earned .

A team of surgical techs assisting a doctor in surgery

How Do Surgical Technologist Salaries Compare to Similar Careers?

While the for all occupations in the US is $41,950, the average pay of surgical technologists is much higher, comparatively, at $49,710 per year.

With relevant qualifications, certifications, and experience, surgical techs can also work in similar medical occupations. The mean annual wages for each of these occupations are as follows:

Surgical Technologist Salaries

Factors That Impact a Surgical Tech’s Salary  in Rhode Island

The salary of a surgical technologist, just like any other job position, depends on education, the level of training, job experience, certifications, and location. Below, we’ll explore these factors in more detail.

Individual Experience

Entry-level technologists and technicians in the bottom 10 percentile of professionals can typically earn around $43,620 per year. You can expect an increase in salary as you gain experience.

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While mid-level technologists in the top 25 percentile of the salary range earned mean annual salaries of $68,960, the top 10 percent of senior-level techs had an.

Specialization, Critical Skills and Certifications

, earning a certification after your post-secondary qualification can be beneficial in finding a job in the medical industry. Opting for certifications can improve your salary and help you stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in your domain.

You must also consider the number of jobs available in your location. For example, if there are fewer surgical techs in your area than the number of positions available, your skills will be valued at a higher rate.

Factors That Impact a Surgical Tech’s Salary  in Rhode Island

The salary of a surgical technologist, just like any other job position, depends on education, the level of training, job experience, certifications, and location. Below, we’ll explore these factors in more detail.

Individual Experience

Entry-level technologists and technicians in the bottom 10 percentile of professionals can typically earn around $43,620 per year. You can expect an increase in salary as you gain experience.

While mid-level technologists in the top 25 percentile of the salary range earned mean annual salaries of $68,960, the top 10 percent of senior-level techs had an.

Specialization, Critical Skills and Certifications

, earning a certification after your post-secondary qualification can be beneficial in finding a job in the medical industry. Opting for certifications can improve your salary and help you stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in your domain.

You must also consider the number of jobs available in your location. For example, if there are fewer surgical techs in your area than the number of positions available, your skills will be valued at a higher rate.

What are the Responsibilities of a Surgical Technologist?

A surgical technologist assists with operations and surgical procedures, prepares operating rooms, arranges equipment, performs post-surgical supervision, and helps doctors during surgery.

Some of the daily job responsibilities of a surgical technologist may include:

  • Sterilizing equipment and preparing operating rooms.
  • Ensuring adequate supplies for surgery.
  • Getting patients ready for surgery by washing and disinfecting sutures and incision sites.
  • Passing instruments during surgical operations and keeping a record to ensure no foreign objects remain inside the patient’s body.
  • Holding retractors, internal organs, and supplies during the operation.
  • Set up the robotic surgical equipment for surgeries.
  • Surgical technologists may also handle specimens for lab analysis or apply dressings to the incision site. After the procedure, the technologists may also aid in transferring patients to recovery rooms.
Surgical techs getting a room ready for surgery

What are the Other Benefits of Becoming a Surgical Technologist?

While the base salary forms the fixed component of your earnings, most jobs in the country offer additional perks and benefits such as insurance, 401k, paid leave, maternity leave, social security, pension, disability, and more.

Aside from the benefits listed above, there are a few additional perks you can look forward to when choosing a career in surgical technology, such as:

  • Most surgical tech programs allow students to graduate in around two years, helping them get jobs quickly and start earning.
  • Post-secondary programs in surgical tech can be less costly than the cost of tuition for becoming a surgeon.
  • The surgical tech field offers immense job satisfaction due to the noble act of saving lives.
  • There are tremendous opportunities in this field, as BLS predicts the employment of surgical techs to grow much faster than the national average.
  • Surgical technologists have to deal with new challenges every day. As a professional, there will be tremendous learning and growth opportunities for you.
  • Obtaining a degree in surgical tech can open up many career opportunities, from medical assistance to teaching and administration.

Career/Jobs

If you’re aspiring to be a surgical technologist, the following information can be quite beneficial:

What is the Job Outlook & Hiring Trends for Surgical Technologists?

that the employment of surgical techs in the United States will increase by seven percent from 2019-2029, creating more than 7,600 new jobs.

The employment growth rate for surgical techs is considerably higher than the national average for all occupations. 

An aging baby-boom population is also creating more demand for surgery and operations, as older people tend to require more care. The current generation is also much more open to surgeries to improve their quality of life. For example, younger people getting knee replacements for an active lifestyle or cataract removal surgeries for better vision.

You can expect more job openings with higher pay as the demand for surgical technologists increases.

Common Career Paths

After completing your accredited formal education program, you can pursue certifications from the, the, or from the American Board of Surgical Assistants.

Once you pass your certification exam, you can begin working as a certified surgical technologist. With adequate experience, you can even advance to surgical first assistant roles.

Some professionals will eventually transfer into other similar occupations. Allied occupations like Anesthesiologists, Registered Nurses, or post-secondary teachers of health specialties are popular choices. Career advancements generally require additional training, education, and certification/licensing.

A surgical technologist monitoring a patient

Best Cities to Work in as a Surgical Tech

Subject to fulfilling the state eligibility criteria, you can apply for jobs at any location in the US. These are the best metropolitan areas in RI and the US to work as a surgical technologist:

Best Cities in Rhode Island for Surgical Tech Jobs

The Norwich-New London-Westerly area is a highly sought-after location for surgical technology professionals with a .

With more than , the Providence-Warwick region is another attractive location for finding jobs in this field.

According to and BLS, these are the top-paying cities in Rhode Island:

Best Cities in Rhode Island for Surgical Tech Jobs

Best Cities/States in the US For a Career in Surgical Tech

Alaska is the highest-paying state in the US, with , while Texas has the highest employment for surgical technologists.

Let’s look at the best cities and states in the US for pursuing a career as a surgical technologist.

Best States For a Career in Surgical Tech
top-paying states for surgical technologist in the United States
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Surgical Technologist
Top Paying metropolitan areas for Surgical Technologist

Top Companies for Surgical Techs

Most employers around the country offer competitive pay and benefits for surgical technologists. While some companies have a reputation for their great compensation package, others rank highly for their work-life balance.

We have listed some of the best companies in RI and the US for surgical tech jobs.

Best Employers in Rhode Island

Some of the top recruiters in the healthcare industry for surgical technologists in Rhode Island are:

Top Companies in the United States

These are the best places to work in the US, , in the following categories:

Companies with Best Compensation

, the following companies offer the highest pay for surgical technicians.

Companies with Best Compensation
Top-Rated Companies

constituting work purpose, compensation, and work happiness scores, these are some of the highest-rated employers:

Top-Rated Companies

Conclusion

Becoming a surgical technologist can be a rewarding career with excellent pay, benefits, and job satisfaction. If you want to pursue a career in surgical technology and earn a comfortable salary in Rhode Island, a formal education program can be highly beneficial. 

FAQs

What state pays the highest for surgical tech?

According to BLS, Alaska had the highest mean annual wages for surgical technologists in May 2020. The top 5 states according to annual surgical technologist salaries are Alaska, Nevada, California, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia.

Does an RN make more than a surgical tech?

The median annual wage for according to BLS, while. For example, in Rhode Island, average RNs made $82,790 annually, whereas the mean annual wages for surgical technologists stood at $59,410.

With the ×ö°®ÊÓƵ Institute of Technology’s Surgical Technology, AS program, whether you become a Surgical Technologist or pursue an allied career in another medical role, the intensive program will prepare you to succeed with experience-based knowledge.

What is the highest-paying surgical tech job?

The highest-paying surgical tech jobs are offered across colleges, universities, specialty hospitals, outpatient care centers, ambulatory health care services, and healthcare management jobs.

What skills do surgical technologists need?

A surgical technologist must possess excellent communication skills, dexterity, integrity, and listening skills. Working long hours in challenging situations also requires a surgical technologist to have physical and stress-management skills.