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.
Table of Contents
A Guide to Surgical Technologist Salaries in Rhode Island
The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) produces salary data, employment, and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations in all the states across the United States.
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These are the latest surgical technologist salary estimates in RI according to BLS:
How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make Per Hour?
However, the hourly wages can differ according to your qualification, skills, and years of experience.
How Much Do Surgical Techs Make Per Year?
During the same period, the top 10 percent highest-earning professionals earned mean annual wages of over $77,380.
How Do Surgical Technologist Salaries Compare to Similar Careers?
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:
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.
[Specialization, Critical Skills and Certifications
According to BLS, 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 average salary of $77,380 per year.
Specialization, Critical Skills and Certifications
According to BLS, 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.
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?
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 National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, the National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants, or from the American Board of Surgical Assistants.
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.
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 mean annual salary of $58,740.
According to Indeed.com and BLS, these are the top-paying cities in Rhode Island:
Best Cities/States in the US For a Career in Surgical Tech
Alaska is the highest-paying state in the US, with mean annual wages of $67,120, 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.
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, according to Indeed.com, in the following categories:
Companies with Best Compensation
Based on their reported salaries, the following companies offer the highest pay for surgical technicians.
Top-Rated Companies
Based on the employee ratings constituting work purpose, compensation, and work happiness scores, these are some of the highest-rated employers:
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.
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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 registered nurses in the US is $75,330 according to BLS, while surgical technologists earn a median salary of $49,710 per year. 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 New England 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.