Tuesday 9 July 2013

Surgical Technician Salary: How Your Credentials Affect It

By Darin Bear


Among the reasons why many people are getting into the surgical technician career is because there is a good level of pay without having to study too long for it. While it is true that working as a surgical tech won't turn you into an instant millionaire, there is plenty of room for advancement here. The good news is that it is possible to receive a higher surgical technician salary by improving your resume.

On the average, a surgical technician can receive somewhere around $40,000 to $45,000 per year. Of course the amount you will receive will probably be different depending on a number of factors. Work experience is a difference maker when it comes to surgical technician salary - getting more of this will likely entitle you to higher pay.

You should also be aware that your surgical technician salary can be affected by the geographical location of the company you are working for. You can expect to receive a higher pay if you are working in a hospital located in a city with a high cost of living as compared to a similar hospital that's located in a rural area. Employers may also give a better starting salary for those who graduated from accredited training programs.

You can refer to the website of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) for a complete listing of schools that offer accredited training programs for surgical technicians. The type of degree you graduated with (e.g. certificate, diploma, or associate's degree) can also determine how much surgical technician salary you can be entitled to.

With competition getting tougher in this career, you should seriously consider getting certified by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Once you have acquired the title of Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), not only will it be easier to apply for a job, it will also be a plus in your credentials and therefore you can be entitled to a higher surgical technician salary.

Since there is plenty of room for advancement in this career, you should take full advantage of this if you are serious about getting to the highest thresholds of surgical technician salary. Taking up continuing education and specializing in one or more areas of surgery (e.g. neurosurgery, open-heart surgery) is a highly recommended action that you should take for the best results.




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