Healthcare career data · 2026

Surgical tech pay by state, adjusted for cost of living

The state with the biggest paycheck isn't always the one where the paycheck goes furthest. We took the median surgical technologist wage in every state and divided it by that state's cost of living. After the adjustment, Minnesota delivers the strongest real pay (~$84,789), while several high-sticker states fall well down the list.

The short answer

Best real pay (cost-of-living adjusted)

Minnesota $84,789 · Wisconsin $75,865 · Nevada $75,329 · Colorado $73,749 · Oregon $72,800

Highest sticker wage vs. cost of living

Hawaii leads on the raw paycheck ($82,640) and ranks #51 once cost of living is applied. Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts lose the most purchasing power of any states.

National benchmark

The U.S. median surgical technologist wage is $64,650 (BLS, May 2025). Lowest adjusted pay lands in Hawaii (~$44,670).

Surgical tech pay in all 50 states + DC

Ranked by cost-of-living-adjusted pay (highest real pay first). “Adjusted pay” = median wage ÷ (state cost-of-living index ÷ 100). Select a state for its full breakdown.

#StateMedian wage (BLS 2025)Cost-of-living indexAdjusted (real) pay
1Minnesota$80,21094.6$84,789
2Wisconsin$74,12097.7$75,865
3Nevada$75,480100.2$75,329
4Colorado$75,740102.7$73,749
5Oregon$81,390111.8$72,800
6Idaho$72,55099.9$72,623
7Oklahoma$61,19086.0$71,151
8Connecticut$79,890112.7$70,887
9Texas$65,22092.1$70,814
10Indiana$64,24091.0$70,593
11Michigan$63,32090.1$70,277
12Georgia$64,01092.5$69,200
13Nebraska$63,88092.6$68,985
14Missouri$61,12089.0$68,674
15Illinois$64,65094.7$68,268
16Kansas$60,60088.8$68,243
17Washington$77,270114.1$67,721
18Iowa$60,54089.7$67,492
19North Dakota$61,64091.4$67,440
20New Hampshire$75,040111.4$67,361
21New Jersey$77,200115.1$67,072
22Virginia$67,580100.8$67,044
23Tennessee$60,53090.3$67,032
24Rhode Island$74,130110.6$67,025
25Ohio$62,42094.3$66,193
26South Carolina$62,16094.7$65,639
27Kentucky$60,49092.5$65,395
28Arizona$72,260110.7$65,276
29South Dakota$59,87091.9$65,147
30Pennsylvania$62,68097.2$64,486
31Alaska$80,380124.9$64,355
32Arkansas$57,40089.6$64,063
33Montana$60,97095.5$63,843
34New York$79,550125.1$63,589
35Wyoming$58,85093.7$62,807
36North Carolina$60,92097.8$62,290
37Louisiana$57,37092.3$62,156
38Utah$62,720102.2$61,370
39Florida$62,440102.2$61,096
40Delaware$62,250101.9$61,089
41Maryland$68,970115.4$59,766
42Massachusetts$80,870141.2$57,273
43California$81,310142.3$57,140
44Mississippi$49,81087.3$57,056
45District of Columbia$77,520138.8$55,850
46Alabama$49,42088.6$55,779
47Maine$62,860113.0$55,628
48West Virginia$49,11088.3$55,617
49New Mexico$51,78093.7$55,261
50Vermont$60,660113.6$53,398
51Hawaii$82,640185.0$44,670

How we calculated this

  • Median wages are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, for Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055). We use the median (the typical surgical tech) rather than the mean, which a few very high earners can pull upward.
  • Cost-of-living index (U.S. average = 100) is from World Population Review's 2025-2026 Cost of Living Index by State — the same index we use for our medical assistant pay analysis and phlebotomist pay analysis, so all three occupations are directly comparable.
  • Adjusted (real) pay = median wage ÷ (state cost-of-living index ÷ 100). A state with an index of 110 is 10% more expensive than the national average, so a $65,000 wage there has the buying power of about $59,000.
  • Figures are rounded and meant for comparison, not as an offer or a guarantee. Individual pay depends on setting (hospital OR vs. ASC vs. specialty service line), call and shift coverage, certification (CST or TS-C), and experience.

What this means for your next move

Use adjusted pay, not the sticker wage, when you compare offers across states — and then make sure your resume actually earns the top of that range. Surgical tech hiring rewards the same things this data hints at: specialty service-line depth (CVOR, neuro, ortho, transplant), documented sterile technique and instrument-setup scope, call and trauma experience, robotic and laparoscopic case familiarity, and the CST credential stated plainly — all presented in a format a hiring manager can scan in seconds.

That's exactly what a Pharm rewrite surfaces. See the early-career and mid-career tracks, or drop your resume for a free 60-second read.

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More surgical tech and allied-health career resources

Pay data is only part of the picture. These guides cover the credential and positioning moves that push surgical technologists and other allied-health professionals toward the top of the wage band.

Frequently asked questions

Which state pays surgical technologists the most after cost of living?

After adjusting for cost of living, Minnesota offers surgical technologists the strongest real pay — about $84,789 in cost-of-living-adjusted terms. The top five for adjusted pay are Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon. Hawaii has the highest sticker wage ($82,640) but ranks lower once its cost of living is applied.

What is the average surgical tech salary in 2025?

The national median annual wage for surgical technologists is $64,650 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025). State medians range from the high $40,000s to over $80,000 before any cost-of-living adjustment.

Does a higher surgical tech salary mean more buying power?

Not always. A high sticker wage in an expensive state can buy less than a lower wage in an affordable one. Hawaii pays well nominally but loses the most purchasing power once cost of living is factored in. Cost-of-living-adjusted pay is the more honest comparison when you are deciding where to work.

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Surgical Tech Pay by State (Cost-of-Living Adjusted) | 2026 | The Pharm