Starting Salary

• Nebraska's Southeast Community College reports that recent graduates of its Associate of Applied Science program earned an average starting wage of $15.40 per hour as of 2011, which equates to approximately $30,800 a year. Central Ohio Technical College estimates that graduates from its Surgical Technology Associates program earn a starting salary between $27,000 and $29,000 per year. The Iowa Lakes Community College, which is located on the border of Iowa and Minnesota, offers an Associate in Applied Science degree. The college reports that graduates can earn $15.05 per hour in Iowa, or $18.58 in Minnesota after completing this degree. Cuyahoga Community College estimates that graduates of its surgical technology associates program earn between $15.50 and $18.00 per hour in the nearby Cleveland area.
  
  

Associate Degree vs. Certificates

• Many surgical technology programs offer both two-year associate degree and one-year certificate programs. According to Harrisburg Area Community College, employers do not typically distinguish between these two types of programs, and surgical techs can expect the same average earnings with either of these options. Both of these programs qualify candidates to sit for industry certification exams. The key difference between the two is that an associate degree includes general education requirements, and those credits may transfer to future bachelor's or other degrees. Certificate programs do not include general education courses, and credits often do not transfer.
  
  

National Earnings

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that surgical technicians earned a median annual salary of $38,760 as of May 2008. The lowest 10 percent of earners made $27,510 or less, while the highest 10 percent earned $53,300 or more. These numbers reflect all surgical technicians in the U.S., including those at all experience levels and with various types of degrees or training.
  
  

Certification

• Many employers require surgical technicians to seek industry certification from the National Board of Surgical Technicians and Surgical Assistants, or NBSTSA. According to the Harrisburg Area Community College, candidates can increase earning potential and job prospects by undergoing NBSTSA certification. This process requires completion of a certificate program or associate degree in surgical technology, as well as an exam.
  
  A 2002 survey by the NBSTSA revealed that certified surgical techs earned 50 cents to $5.00 more per hour on average than those who skip the certification process. Roughly half of those surveyed reported that their employer also compensated them for pursing and maintaining this credential.