Travel surgical tech salary

Choosing a career as a travel surgical tech, sometimes known as a travel surg tech, is an excellent career choice for people who want a sustainable, high-paying job. When you pursue a career as a travel surgical tech, you’re making a smart investment towards your financial future. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall employment for surgical technologists is expected to grow 6% by 2031. The BLS also explains that due to the rapidly aging baby boomer generation, the need for operations will increase, thus creating a high demand for surgical technologists. 

If you’re a surgical tech wanting a quick way to increase your salary, the easiest way to accomplish this is to become a traveler. At Nomad, travel surgical techs are amongst the most popular professions of all our allied health travelers. And a result of the evolving landscape of the surgical technologist field, there are plenty of opportunities while traveling to increase your pay by way of certifications, specializations, and more.

We’ve compiled this travel surgical tech salary guide to help our clinicians understand travel surgical tech pay and the factors that can influence salary. No matter where you are in your career journey—whether you’re trying to negotiate better pay for a future contract or are simply looking to learn the benchmarks—Nomad Health is here to help.

Average travel surgical tech salary

The average weekly salary or weekly total compensation for travel surgical tech jobs at Nomad Health is $2,106 including stipend. Compared to staff surgical techs who earn an average pay of around $2,000 per week, becoming a traveler is an excellent way to increase surgical tech salary, especially for those with specialization certifications.

Travel surgical tech salary range

Salary ranges for travel surgical techs can change frequently based on compensable factors like location, certifications, and specializations, and more. At Nomad Health, the average weekly salary range or total compensation for a travel surgical tech is $1,240-$3,640 including stipend.

Travel surgical tech pay rate

Travel surgical techs at Nomad Health earn an average hourly pay rate of $66 per hour. On the high end, travelers can earn as much as $91 per hour.

What is the highest salary for a travel surgical tech?

As of September 1, 2023 the highest salary or total compensation reported for travel surgical techs at Nomad Health is $3,640 per week. Keep in mind that travel surgical tech salaries can always increase or decrease depending on influencing factors like the ones mentioned above.

Factors that influence travel surgical tech salary

Travel surgical tech pay is influenced by a number of compensable factors, which include but are not limited to

Travel surgical tech experience

Facilities are always looking for highly skilled surgical technologists with experience under their belt who can come in and hit the ground running. The more relevant experience you have as a travel surgical tech, the more willing a facility is to pay you a higher salary for your skills.

Travel surgical tech education

Higher levels of education like an associate’s degree or post-secondary certificate in surgical technology are necessary for a competitive travel surgical tech salary.

Specialization

Travel surgical technologists who pursue specific specializations like cardiovascular or orthopedics are considered to be more marketable to facilities. Travel surgical techs with specialized experience can negotiate a higher pay rate compared to travel surgical techs without specialization experience.

Certifications

As a travel surgical tech, professional certifications like the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) are widely recognized by facilities, with some even requiring them. Obtaining these certifications can leader to higher pay and give you more salary negotiation power.

Facility demand

When facilities experience surgical technologist shortages, they often rely on travel surgical techs to fill those gaps. Depending on the severity of the shortage, travel surgical techs may be able to negotiate a higher pay with the facility.

Location

The cost of living in each city and state will directly influence how much pay facilities can offer travel surgical techs. For example, a travel surgical tech assignment in a rural area is likely to pay less than a travel assignment in a big city where the cost of living is higher.