Learn how to become a surgical technician/technologist (surgical tech) in South Carolina (SC) including information on the top surgical tech schools and programs, certification and licensing requirements, as well as income and employment data.
Get started today by reaching out to surgical technician schools near you in SC for information on program structure, curriculum, tuition and admission requirements.
How do I become a Surgical Tech in SC?
- To become a surgical technician in South Carolina 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 maths 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 in SC 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 South Carolina
| College | Metro Area | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Aiken Technical College | Aiken | atc.edu |
| Central Carolina Technical College | Sumter | cctech.edu |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | Florence | fdtc.edu |
| Greenville Technical College | Greenville | gvltec.edu |
| Horry Georgetown Technical College | Conway | hgtc.edu |
| Midlands Technical College | Columbia | midlandstech.edu |
| Miller-Motte Technical College | North Charleston | miller-motte.edu |
| Piedmont Technical College | Greenwood | ptc.edu |
| Spartanburg Community College | Spartanburg | sccsc.edu |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry | Beaufort | tcl.edu |
| Tri-County Technical College | Pendleton | tctc.edu |
| Virginia College of Greenville | Greenville | vc.edu |
| Virginia College | North Charleston | vc.edu |
| Virginia College | Columbia | vc.edu |
| York Technical College | Rock Hill | yorktech.edu |
Prior to enrolling in any surgical tech school, it is strongly recommended that you confirm that it is fully accredited.
There are currently 15 accredited surgical technician programs in South Carolina – listed above.
You can also view the map below for more information on surgical technician programs in South Carolina.
Surgical Tech Salary South Carolina
| Average Salary | $39,120 |
|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $18.81 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $50,300 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $28,950 |
| # Employed | 1,780 |
According to the most up to date Bureau of Labor Statistics data released in March 2018 the average surgical technician salary in South Carolina is $39,120 – 19% below the national average of $48,060.
This represents an hourly wage of $18.81.
Those in the top pay brackets for the profession in South Carolina earn an average salary of $50,300 whilst those in the lower pay brackets and in entry level positions earn an average of $28,950 per annum.
There are currently 1,780 persons working as surgical technicians in South Carolina.
South Carolina 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 South Carolina.
As can be seen from the table the highest average salaries for surgical techs in South Carolina are in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort area whilst the highest number of surgical tech jobs are in Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | Top 10% | Bottom 10% | # Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $46,350 | $61,970 | $31,270 | 870 |
| Florence | $58,970 | $77,810 | $41,750 | 760 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin | $68,140 | $95,190 | $43,430 | 1,340 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort | $74,280 | $98,450 | $45,780 | 520 |
| Spartanburg | $72,750 | $101,010 | $48,410 | 710 |
| Sumter | $22,030 | $29,490 | $16,400 | 740 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $54,490 | $72,930 | $42,370 | 60 |
Surgical Tech V’s Related Careers
A career as a surgical technician offers great income potential and excellent job prospects with growth of over 11% projected between 2016 and 2024.
The table below compares average surgical technician salary and employment in South Carolina with salary levels for related healthcare careers in the state.
| Salary | # Employed | |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Technologist | $39,120 | 1,780 |
| Medical Assistant | $31,080 | 9,540 |
| Nursing Assistant | $24,810 | 20,730 |
| Dental Assistant | $38,110 | 4,400 |
| EMT Paramedic | $30,080 | 1,000 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $25,070 | 670 |
| Respiratory Therapy Tech | $50,200 | 170 |
| Veterinary Technician | $30,930 | 1,790 |
| Phlebotomy Technician | $29,410 | 1,680 |
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