Surgical Tech Salary Information
For most people who grew up on medical dramas such as ER and Scrubs, the idea of working in the hospital was a foregone conclusion and a surgical tech salary was a very attractive proposition. The tears intermingling with joy when a patient came from the theater intact was always too much to resist and of course the anecdotes. This was not the usual environment in your local hospital but still many had the memories lingering in their minds. If you did not make it to the medical profession as a surgeon, there are still many decent positions in the theater and the most conspicuous one is that of the surgical technician.
Do not let the term technician fool you because this is one of the most sought after positions today. The surgical tech salary is all you need to view to get convinced as The American Career College (ACC) reported in 2010 that the average annual rate is $37,000 going upwards depending on the level of certification and experience.
Becoming a Surgical Technician
If you are just out of high school or you feel like revisiting your dream job by changing careers, this would be a good path to follow. The question that might come to mind is what your role as the surgical technician is while a nurse is already there. The surgical procedures have become more technologically advanced and the surgeon cannot handle all the gadgetry while still concentrating on the patient. As the technician, you handle the tools and equipments by making sure they are sterilized and in tip top shape before use and even during use.
The technician also has to keep the room sterile and sanitized before the operation starts and also prepare the patient by offering post-operation guidelines. Finally the technician operates the suction machines during the operation and prepares a health report from the procedure and it is no wonder the job package is so enticing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted a 25% growth in the career over the next six years up to 2018 as more of the population ages.
From the assessment of the surgical tech’s role, it is obvious that their position is indispensable as surgical procedures advance further. If you are wondering why you should join the profession, your surgical tech salary should not be the only motivation. For starters, you will be giving back to society by mending broken hearts. This means unlike a career in say law, the job satisfaction will be higher which will improve your sense of self-actualization. Moreover, there is job security in the field as your services will increasingly be called upon from different quarters.
What is a good Surgical Tech Salary?
There are employment opportunities in hospitals, employment in colleges and such institutions, private clinics, and even ambulatory services. Though the surgical tech salary will vary in each of these areas with the highest being in health offices at around $56,000 annually work will always be available. Colleges pay around $48,000 annually while ambulatory services rate at an average of $44,000 depending on the state.
The next issue as regarding this exciting profession is how you can become a technician in the surgical field. You can either work as a non-certified tech or a certified one. The advantage of certification is that hospitals will be more eager to retain your services and the pay will be better. It is advisable to try as much as possible to gain the certification however busy your schedule is if you have already started working. National certification requires sitting and passing of the National Board of Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assistants exam (NBSTSA).
There are many accredited institutions that offer the training including vocational colleges but you have to dedicate your time. Some of the clinical areas taught in training include surgical and clinical procedures in addition to anatomy. You can take your examination in your last month of training if you had already taken an accredited course and all this information can be found on the Commission of Accreditation website (CAAHEP). Remember that if you want to really benefit from the surgical technologist salary you have to get the national certification to increase your demand in the medical circles.
An Association of Surgical Technologists survey in 2010 showed that most of the entrants into surgical colleges sought information online. With the ease of flow of information, this should also be easy as you can compare hundreds of institutions and know which one is closest to you. In addition, the online sources will give you more pertinent data on the surgical tech salary including different rates based on geographical region.
For example, Georgia is rated as the lowest paying state while California records the highest rate according to the same source. The information found online will also help clarify any issues you have more so on certification which can make you miss on the opportunities that come with this amazing career. You can also learn about the benefit options that surgical techs get including tuition reimbursements, health benefits among a plethora of others.