The median annual wage of surgical technologists was $39,920 in May 2010. The median annual wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,100, and the top 10 percent earned more than $57,330.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest number of surgical technologists in May 2010 were as follows:
| Outpatient care centers | $41,210 |
| Offices of physicians | 41,030 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals; state, local, and private | 39,600 |
| Offices of dentists | 36,480 |
Most surgical technologists work full time. Surgical technologists employed in hospitals may work or be on call during nights, weekends, and holidays. They may be required to work shifts lasting longer than 8 hours.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition