CareerFacts

All careers › Surgical Technologists › North Carolina

Surgical technologist salary in North Carolina

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$60,920median pay per year in North Carolina, or $29.29 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $45,990lowest 10% earn less
  2. $51,54025th percentile
  3. $60,920median
  4. $68,52075th percentile
  5. $78,650top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $64,650[3]

The median pay for surgical technologists in North Carolina was $60,920 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $3,730 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in NC
4,400[4]
Rank by median pay
38 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−5.8%[6]

How much do surgical technologists make in North Carolina?

The median wage for surgical technologists in North Carolina was $60,920 a year, or $29.29 an hour[1]. Half of them earned more and half earned less. The average was a little higher at $61,530[7]. Across the US, the median was $64,650, so North Carolina sat $3,730 (5.8%) lower[3][6]. Compared with all jobs in the state, where the median was $47,970[8], surgical technologists earned $12,950 more[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,990, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $78,650[2]. The middle half of the group earned between $51,540 and $68,520[2]. About 4,400 people worked in this job in the state[4].

Among the metro areas with a published median, Greenville, NC had the highest median at $76,820[10]. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had a median of $63,490 across 1,170 jobs[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed, and it does not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

North Carolina vs US pay

Pay for surgical technologists in North Carolina next to the national figures[1][3].

NCUS
Median per year$60,920[1]$64,650[3]
Median per hour$29.29[1]$31.08[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$45,990[2]$45,940[13]
Top 10% earn more than$78,650[2]$96,940[13]
Jobs4,400[4]117,460[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for surgical technologists, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[11]$63,4901,170
Raleigh-Cary, NC$61,480560
Winston-Salem, NC$60,920480
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$65,370420
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$60,610370
Greensboro-High Point, NC$59,070340
Wilmington, NC$60,900210
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC$57,000180

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for surgical technologists in the states that border North Carolina, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Virginia[14]$67,5801,910
Georgia$64,0104,380
South Carolina$62,1602,680
Tennessee$60,5303,310

Median pay for surgical technologists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for surgical technologists are projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: postsecondary nondegree award[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a surgical technologist make in North Carolina?
The median wage for surgical technologists in North Carolina was $60,920 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $61,530[7].
How much does a surgical technologist make an hour in North Carolina?
The median was $29.29 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile wage was $22.11 an hour and the 90th percentile was $37.81[17].
Which city in North Carolina pays surgical technologists the most?
Greenville, NC had the highest median annual wage among the metro areas with a published figure, at $76,820[10].
Is North Carolina a good state for surgical technologists?
North Carolina had the 38th highest median annual wage for this job out of the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $3,730 lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a surgical technologist in North Carolina?
This is a US figure, not a state one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a postsecondary nondegree award, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Surgical Technologists in North Carolina was $60,920 per year and $29.29 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Surgical Technologists in North Carolina: 10th percentile $45,990, 25th percentile $51,540, 75th percentile $68,520, 90th percentile $78,650. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Surgical Technologists in the US as a whole was $64,650 per year and $31.08 per hour, with about 117,460 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 4,400 people worked as Surgical Technologists in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 38th highest median annual wage for Surgical Technologists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Surgical Technologists in North Carolina ($60,920) was $3,730 (5.8%) lower than the US median ($64,650). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Surgical Technologists in North Carolina was $61,530 per year and $29.58 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Surgical Technologists in North Carolina was $12,950 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 13 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Surgical Technologists, Greenville, NC had the highest median annual wage, $76,820. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Surgical Technologists in the US: 10th percentile $45,940, 25th percentile $54,690, 75th percentile $79,750, 90th percentile $96,940. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Surgical Technologists in states that border North Carolina (highest first): Virginia $67,580; Georgia $64,010; South Carolina $62,160; Tennessee $60,530. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Surgical Technologists is projected to grow 5% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 7,100 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Surgical Technologists: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Surgical Technologists in North Carolina: 10th percentile $22.11, 25th percentile $24.78, 75th percentile $32.94, 90th percentile $37.81. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only North Carolina. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.