Operating Room Tech Job Description
An Operating Room (OR) technician, plays a critical role in assisting surgeons and nurses during surgical procedures. They prepare the operating room by setting up surgical instruments, equipment, and sterile drapes. In addition, they sterilize the equipment and carefully arrange the instruments for the surgeon. OR Techs are also responsible for counting sponges, needles, and instruments before and after surgery to ensure nothing is left inside the patient. Due to the technical skills and precision required, the OR Tech salary can reflect the high level of responsibility and expertise involved in the role.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities for operating room techs is projected to grow by 5% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than the average for all occupations. The increased demand is due to an aging population, technologic advancements in surgery, and the need for more help for outpatient and minimally invasive surgeries.
Top 5 Highest and Lowest Paying States for Operating Room Tech Jobs in the US
Specific OR tech salary data varies by state and resource. The salary for an operating room tech is influenced by the demand and regional economic conditions.
According to Zippia, the highest and lowest paying states for surgical techs are as follows:
Top 5 Highest Paying States for Operating Room Techs:
1. Oregon
2. Nevada
3. California
4 New York
5 Illinois
Top 5 Lowest Paying States for Operating Room Techs:
1. Iowa
2. Kentucky
3. Indiana
4. Nebraska
5. West Virginia
Historical Data (Salary Outlook) For OR Tech Salary Median
** Chart from https://www.zippia.com/salaries/operating-room-technician/#salary-history-line-chart
Median salary, Entry-level salary, Average salary
The entry OR Tech salary in the U.S. is between $38,000-$45,000 annually which is a rate of $18.00-$21.60 per hour. The median earning salary is $55,960 ($26.90/hour) with an average salary of $56,00-$58,000 annually ($27-$28/hour). Top earners can reach $75,000 annually or $36.00+ per hour. Non-traveling techs may have variations in salary based on specialization, geographic location, type of healthcare institution, certification, and expertise level.
A traveling operating room technician will receive a higher hourly rate because of their temporary nature of the job. According to ZipRecruiter, they may have an average annual salary of $97,880/year or $47/hour excluding stipends, overtime, and bonuses.
Average OR Tech Salary by State (for non-traveling tech)
| State | Annual Salary | Weekly Salary | Hourly Wage |
| Alabama | $47,839 | $920 | $23.00 |
| Alaska | $63,669 | $1,224 | $30.61 |
| Arizona | $61,047 | $1,174 | $29.35 |
| Arkansas | $53,557 | $1,030 | $24.43 |
| California | $63,104 | $1,214 | $30.34 |
| Colorado | $55,636 | $1,070 | $26.75 |
| Connecticut | $56,980 | $1,096 | $27.39 |
| Delaware | $53,703 | $1,033 | $25.82 |
| Florida | $46,392 | $892 | $22.30 |
| Georgia | $56,569 | $1,088 | $27.20 |
| Hawaii | $66,880 | $1,286 | $32.15 |
| Idaho | $61,051 | $1,174 | $29.35 |
| Illinois | $63,188 | $1,215 | $30.38 |
| Indiana | $46,466 | $894 | $22.34 |
| Iowa | $44,170 | $849 | $21.24 |
| Kansas | $56,270 | $1,082 | $27.05 |
| Kentucky | $45,923 | $883 | $22.08 |
| Louisiana | $52,682 | $1,013 | $25.33 |
| Maine | $49,956 | $961 | $24.02 |
| Maryland | $56,827 | $1,093 | $27.32 |
| Massachusetts | $54,531 | $1,049 | $26.22 |
| Michigan | $58,253 | $1,120 | $28.01 |
| Minnesota | $61,904 | $1,190 | $29.76 |
| Mississippi | $58,398 | $1,123 | $28.08 |
| Missouri | $56,001 | $1,077 | $26.92 |
| Montana | $51,563 | $992 | $24.79 |
| Nebraska | $46,816 | $900 | $22.51 |
| Nevada | $68,303 | $1,314 | $32.84 |
| New Hampshire | $53,988 | $1,038 | $25.96 |
| New Jersey | $60,615 | $1,166 | $29.14 |
| New Mexico | $48,791 | $938 | $23.46 |
| New York | $67,236 | $1,293 | $32.33 |
| North Carolina | $48,260 | $928 | $23.20 |
| North Dakota | $50,436 | $970 | $24.25 |
| Ohio | $47,461 | $913 | $22.82 |
| Oklahoma | $55,617 | $1,070 | $26.74 |
| Oregon | $70,904 | $1,364 | $34.09 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,994 | $961 | $24.04 |
| Rhode Island | $58,273 | $1,121 | $28.02 |
| South Carolina | $50,578 | $973 | $24.32 |
| South Dakota | $47,475 | $913 | $22.82 |
| Tennessee | $53,166 | $1.022 | $25.56 |
| Texas | $53,551 | $1,030 | $25.75 |
| Utah | $51,321 | $987 | $24.67 |
| Vermont | $50,855 | $978 | $24.45 |
| Virginia | $47,670 | $917 | $22.92 |
| Washington | $65,853 | $1,266 | $31.66 |
| West Virginia | $47,385 | $911 | $22.78 |
| Wisconsin | $56,553 | $1,088 | $56,553 |
| Wyoming | $57,974 | $1,114 | $27.87 |
Average OR Tech Salary by State (for traveling tech)
| State | Annual Salary | Weekly Salary | Hourly Wage |
| Alabama | $89,930 | $1,729 | $43.24 |
| Alaska | $98,122 | $1,886 | $47.17 |
| Arizona | $92,461 | $1,778 | $44.45 |
| Arkansas | $74,379 | $1,430 | $35.76 |
| California | $86,993 | $1,672 | $41.82 |
| Colorado | $94,436 | $1,816 | $45.40 |
| Connecticut | $88,228 | $1,696 | $42.42 |
| Delaware | $89,539 | $1,721 | $43.05 |
| Florida | $74,142 | $1,425 | $35.65 |
| Georgia | $83,776 | $1,611 | $40.28 |
| Hawaii | $95,104 | $1,828 | $45.72 |
| Idaho | $83,021 | $1,596 | $39.91 |
| Illinois | $87,164 | $1,676 | $41.91 |
| Indiana | $94,413 | $1,815 | $45.39 |
| Iowa | $88,148 | $1,695 | $42.38 |
| Kansas | $82,112 | $1,579 | $39.48 |
| Kentucky | $78,306 | $1,505 | $37.65 |
| Louisiana | $80,923 | $1,556 | $38.91 |
| Maine | $103,643 | $1,993 | $49.83 |
| Maryland | $86,792 | $1,669 | $41.73 |
| Massachusetts | $98,677 | $1,897 | $47.44 |
| Michigan | $78,246 | $1,504 | $37.62 |
| Minnesota | $92,687 | $1,782 | $44.56 |
| Mississippi | $87,224 | $1,677 | $41.94 |
| Missouri | $84,046 | $1,616 | $40.41 |
| Montana | $91,067 | $1,751 | $43.78 |
| Nebraska | $85,163 | $1,637 | $40.94 |
| Nevada | $92,778 | $1,784 | $44.60 |
| New Hampshire | $98,365 | $1,891 | $47.29 |
| New Jersey | $98,253 | $1,889 | $47.24 |
| New Mexico | $92,918 | $1,786 | $44.67 |
| New York | $110,045 | $2,116 | $52.91 |
| North Carolina | $81,483 | $1,566 | $39.17 |
| North Dakota | $96,953 | $1,864 | $46.61 |
| Ohio | $90,300 | $1,736 | $43.41 |
| Oklahoma | $82,474 | $1,586 | $39.65 |
| Oregon | $97,065 | $1,866 | $46.67 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,781 | $1,938 | $48.45 |
| Rhode Island | $89,906 | $1,728 | $43.22 |
| South Carolina | $83,201 | $1,600 | $40.00 |
| South Dakota | $91,631 | $1,762 | $44.05 |
| Tennessee | $86,213 | $1,657 | $41.45 |
| Texas | $82,283 | $1,582 | $39.56 |
| Utah | $85,949 | $1,652 | $41.32 |
| Vermont | $108,253 | $2,081 | $52.05 |
| Virginia | $88,555 | $1,702 | $42.57 |
| Washington | $100,173 | $1,926 | $48.16 |
| West Virginia | $77,834 | $1,496 | $37.42 |
| Wisconsin | $96,691 | $1,859 | $46.49 |
| Wyoming | $96,158 | $1,849 | $46.23 |
Note: From ZipRecruiter “Surgical Tech Travel” OR Techs and surgical tech salaries are similar and no specific data was available for traveling OR Techs.
What is the average incentive bonus for an Operating Room Tech Job?
An operating room technician may be eligible for sign-on, commitment, relocation and travel bonuses. A sign-on bonus can be as high as $5,000-$20,000 for a high-demand location and tech experience. Commitment bonuses are often paired with a sign-on for an additional $5,000-$10,000 over 1-2 years. Some jobs may even include relocation bonuses of $5,000-$10,000 with up to $8,000 in location assistance. Travel technicians may be offered as much as $30,000 pre-taxes a 1-year commitment.
Employed vs. self-employed Operating Room Tech Jobs
Salaries vary between employed and self-employed operating room techs. Employed techs have a stable income, health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. They usually work for a hospital system or surgery center and have less financial risk. A self-employed tech has a higher earning potential, increased flexibility, but must find their own jobs, and may/may not be provided with healthcare or a retirement plan.
Most common benefits for an Operating Room Tech
Being an operating room technician comes with both professional and personal benefits including:
- Job Stability- The demand for operating room techs is expected to grow due to the increase in surgical volume.
- Competitive Compensation- Techs have a strong base salary with potential to earn several different types of bonuses.
- Career Growth Opportunities- Operating room technicians can specialize in a high-demand area like neurosurgery or cardiology and opportunities for advancement with further education.
- Skill Development- Operating room techs have hands-on training in complex surgical procedures and exposure to new techniques and technology.
- Team Collaboration- OR techs work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses in a high-pressure setting.
- Flexibility in Scheduling- Many OR tech positions can choose locations, assignments, and schedules.
- Sense of Purpose- Technicians enjoy personal satisfaction because they directly work to improve patient safety and surgical outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the average OR Tech Salary?
The national average salary for an operating room technician is around $57,000 to $60,000 per year for an employed position and travel OR techs can earn $85,000 to $120,000+ annually depending on location, experience, and assignment length.
2. What types of bonuses can Operating Room Technicians receive?
OR techs can earn sign-on bonuses, retention/commitment bonuses, relocation assistance bonuses and competition bonuses for travel assignments.
3. Does their experience impact an Operating Room Technician’s salary?
Experience does impact their salary. Entry-level surgical technicians start with a lower salary from $45,000-$50,000 per year and with 10 years or more of experience, they can earn $70,000-$85,000 or even $100K in a travel position.
4. Do Operating Room Technicians earn more in certain states or cities?
Yes, salaries are typically higher in urban areas and coastal states, and are often reflective of the cost of living in a particular state or city.
5. Do specialized Operating Room Technicians make more money?
Yes, those with specialties like Cardiovascular (CVOR), Orthopedic, and Neurosurgery typically earn higher hourly rates ($5-$15 per hour) and larger bonuses.
Check out our open OR Tech positions here!