Get started with your new career as a surgical technician (surgical tech) in Missouri (MO) today. Below we have information on all the top accredited surgical tech programs in your area as well as help with understanding certification/ licensing requirements, and salaries and employment data for aspiring surgical technicians in Missouri.
How to become a Surgical Tech in Missouri
A career as a surgical technician offers great income potential and excellent job prospects with growth of over 11% projected between 2016 and 2024.
In order to become a surgical technician in Missouri you will need to complete an accredited surgical tech program. Surgical tech programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) as well as the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
A high school diploma or similar is typically a requirement for admittance into such programs. Some schools may require certain subjects such as biology or math’s as a prerequisite. Additionally you may be required to undergo some background checks and health screening as part of the admittance process.
Most surgical tech programs will typically take between 9 months and 2 years to complete depending on whether it is a certificate or degree program.
Once you have graduated from an accredited program you can then choose to sit the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) certification exams to become a Certified Surgical Technologist. Certification is not essential but it is generally preferred by employers and will help greatly with career advancement.
As of yet licensing for surgical technicians is only a requirement in a small number of states including Colorado, Illinois, Washington, Indiana, and DC.
Accredited Surgical Tech Programs in Missouri
| College | Metro Area | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Public Schools/Columbia Area Career Center | Columbia | cpsk12.org |
| Franklin Technology Center | Joplin | mssu.edu |
| Hillyard Technical Center | St. Joseph | sjsd.k12.mo.us |
| Lincoln University | Jefferson City | lincolnu.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College | Kansas City | mcckc.edu |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | otc.edu |
| Rolla Technical Center | Rolla | rolla.k12.mo.us |
| South Central Career Center | West Plains | zizzers.org |
| Southeast Missouri College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Cape Girardeau | sehcollege.edu |
| St. Louis Community College | St Louis | stlcc.edu |
Before you enrol in any surgical tech school it is strongly recommended that you confirm that it is fully accredited.
There are currently 10 accredited surgical technician programs in Missouri – listed above.
You can also view the map below for more information on surgical technician programs in Missouri.
Surgical Tech Salary Missouri
| Average Salary | $42,720 |
|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $20.54 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $58,560 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $30,390 |
| # Employed | 1,950 |
According to the most up to date Bureau of Labor Statistics data released in March 2018 the average surgical technician salary in Missouri is $42,720 – 11% less than the national average of $48,060.
This represents an hourly wage of $20.54.
Those in the top pay brackets for the profession in Missouri earn an average salary of $58,560 whilst those in the lower pay brackets and in entry level positions earn an average of $30,390 per annum.
There are currently 1,950 persons working as surgical technicians in Missouri.
Missouri Surgical Tech Employment and Salaries by Metro Area
The table below details salary and employment levels for surgical technicians in the main cities and metro areas in Missouri.
As can be seen from the table the highest average salaries for surgical techs in Missouri are in the Joplin area whilst the highest number of surgical tech jobs are in St. Joseph.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | Top 10% | Bottom 10% | # Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin | $57,370 | $72,260 | $45,180 | - |
| Springfield | $18,010 | $21,240 | $16,040 | 100 |
| Cape Girardeau | $49,590 | $68,140 | $34,130 | - |
| St. Louis | $53,140 | $70,070 | $40,840 | 90 |
| Kansas City | $44,730 | $59,360 | $33,570 | 670 |
| St. Joseph | $45,710 | $60,600 | $33,680 | 2,090 |
Surgical Tech V’s Related Careers
The table below compares average surgical technician salary and employment in Missouri with salary levels for related healthcare careers in the state.
| Salary | # Employed | |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Technologist | $42,720 | 1,950 |
| Medical Assistant | $31,370 | 9,780 |
| Nursing Assistant | $25,360 | 40,190 |
| Dental Assistant | $36,900 | 5,530 |
| EMT Paramedic | $33,220 | 700 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $22,400 | 850 |
| Respiratory Therapy Tech | - | - |
| Veterinary Technician | $34,840 | 1,700 |
| Phlebotomy Technician | $31,630 | 2,120 |
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