Get started with your new career in healthcare today and learn how to become a surgical technician/technologist (surgical tech) in Pennsylvania (PA).
We have information on all the top schools and colleges nearest to you offering accredited surgical tech programs in Pennsylvania. We also have information on certification/ licensing requirements, and salaries and employment data for aspiring Pennsylvanian surgical technicians.
How to become a Surgical Tech in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
| College | Metro Area | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Community College of Allegheny County | Monroeville | ccac.edu |
| Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center | Johnstown | conemaugh.org |
| Delaware County Community College | Media | dccc.edu |
| Great Lakes Institute of Technology | Erie | glit.edu |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | hacc.edu |
| Lackawanna College | Scranton | lackawanna.edu |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | luzerne.edu |
| McCann School of Business and Technology | Allentown | mccann.edu |
| McCann School of Business and Technology | Carlisle | mccann.edu |
| McCann School of Business and Technology | Hazelton | mccann.edu |
| McCann School of Business and Technology | Lewisburg | mccann.edu |
| Montgomery County Community College | Pottstown | mc3.edu |
| Mount Aloysius College | Cresson | mtaloy.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences | Lancaster | pacollege.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport | pct.edu |
| Pittsburgh Technical Institute | Oakdale | pti.edu |
| Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences | Reading | readinghealth.org |
| St Luke's Hospital & Health Network | Bethlehem | sluhn.org |
Before you enrol in any surgical tech school it is strongly recommended that you confirm that it is fully accredited. There are currently 18 accredited surgical technician programs in Pennsylvania – listed above.
For more options, you might be interested in:
- Dental Assistant Programs n PA
- Medical Assisting Programs in PA
You can also view the map below for more information on surgical technician programs in Pennsylvania.
Surgical Tech Salary Pennsylvania
| Average Salary | $44,080 |
| Hourly Wage | $21.19 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $59,220 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $32,780 |
| # Employed | 3,890 |
According to the most up to date Bureau of Labor Statistics data released in March 2018 the average surgical technician salary in Pennsylvania is $44,080 – 8% less than the national average of $48,060.
This represents an hourly wage of $21.19.
Those in the top pay brackets for the profession in Pennsylvania earn an average salary of $59,220 whilst those in the lower pay brackets and in entry level positions earn an average of $32,780 per annum.
There are currently 3,890 persons working as surgical technicians in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.
As can be seen from the table the highest average salaries for surgical techs in Pennsylvania are in the Chambersburg-Waynesboro area whilst the highest number of surgical tech jobs are in Johnstown.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | Top 10% | Bottom 10% | # Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg-Waynesboro | $66,870 | $79,370 | $48,740 | 50 |
| Erie | $53,740 | $70,660 | $35,610 | 210 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $51,530 | $74,200 | $34,750 | 490 |
| Johnstown | $56,520 | $77,880 | $40,890 | 990 |
| Lancaster | $38,750 | $51,100 | $26,370 | - |
| Pittsburgh | $54,690 | $75,050 | $39,180 | - |
| Reading | $39,280 | $50,460 | $29,340 | 350 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton | $43,590 | $61,370 | $32,340 | 130 |
| York-Hanover | $41,260 | $51,650 | $32,870 | 30 |
| Montgomery County-Bucks County-Chester County | $45,950 | $59,460 | $35,320 | 90 |
| Philadelphia | $62,340 | $81,150 | $43,130 | 800 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $40,230 | $52,540 | $28,040 | 140 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $49,830 | $62,830 | $40,970 | 140 |
Surgical Tech V’s Related Careers
The table below compares average surgical technician salary and employment in Pennsylvania with salary levels for related healthcare careers in the state.
| Salary | # Employed | |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Technologist | $44,080 | 3,890 |
| Medical Assistant | $31,980 | 28,260 |
| Nursing Assistant | $30,010 | 75,020 |
| Dental Assistant | $37,870 | 10,930 |
| EMT Paramedic | $22,130 | 2,050 |
| Veterinary Technician | $35,880 | 5,650 |
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