The Pay for Surgical Techs in Texas is at an All Time High!
Surgical technologists are also known as operating room technicians and scrubs. Certified surgical technologists can also act as the surgical first assistant. They assist the doctors, anesthesiologists and nurses in surgeries. They can assist in operations and during deliveries. Some may work in physicians or dentists offices, or for a surgeon’s team. Most surgical technologists work in hospitals, making up 75 percent.
In Texas, hospitals and outpatient surgical centers employ the highest number of surgical techs. There are currently 2,580 licensed surgical techs employed in the Houston-Sugarland area. This number represents more than 25% of the 9,790 surgical technologists employed in the state of Texas. Coming in second is the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where 1,940 surgical techs are employed. Texas currently has the highest number of surgical techs in the U.S.
The average surgical tech salary in Texas is currently $47,600, according to the latest employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This works out to $22.88 per hour.
What Do Surgical Techs in Texas Do?
The job of a surgical tech includes preparing the operating room. This means they sterilize surgical equipment and instruments and set them up, and prepare sterile drapes and solutions. They’ll also clean the operating room before and after the surgery. They will check all the equipment and make sure it is functioning properly. During surgery, they will standby to hand instruments to the surgeon.
Surgical technologists also prepare the patient for surgery. They will ask the patient questions before the surgery and try to prepare them both mentally and physically. They will prepare the incision site by washing, shaving and disinfecting it. They move the patient to the operating room and assist with transferring them to the table. They’ll regularly check the patient’s vital signs and after surgery will transport them to the recovery room.
Surgical technologists will also help prepare the doctors and nurses for surgery by helping them put on their sterile gloves and gowns. They must work in a sterile environment and help keep everyone else sterilized. They’ll be exposed to diseases, smells and surgeries that may be unpleasant and they must be able to work with this while standing all day and staying alert. One of the reasons the surgical tech salary in Texas is so high is that there is a lot of technical skill that goes into maintaining a sterile field.
They will also work with the anesthesiologist and assist them. During the procedure, they also keep record of what happens. They may assist the surgeon with holding retractors, suctioning or sponging, clamping, and dressing the incision site. A surgical technologist will also count supplies, such as needles, sponges, and instruments. They may prepare and transport specimens for laboratory analysis.
Surgical Tech Programs can be Completed in Less Than 1 Year!
Accredited Surgical Tech Programs usually take between nine and 24 months. You can obtain certification or an associates degree and the school must be accredited through ARC-St. This field is rapidly growing as is the entire healthcare profession. It is expected to grow 24 percent from 2015 to 2025. In 2015, there were about 100,270 surgical technicians in the United States. Although there are many Surgical tech schools online, make sure they are properly accredited before committing to them. The best way to do this is to check to see if the program is listed on The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting website.
Surgical technologists work a 40-hour week and often times are required to work holidays, weekends, nights and be on call. The average surgery technologist salary is now $44,940 a year. Surgical technologist salary can range from $34,00 to as much as $64,000. You can earn more and work your way up by specializing in an area of surgery, such as heart surgery.