Surgical Technologist.
Tampa.
$60,000
median salary, 5% below the national average
$49,000 to $73,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates Surgical Technologist pay in Tampa at $60,000, within a range of $49,000 to $73,000. That is 5% below the national average. Tampa's economy combines a strong financial services sector with growing tech, healthcare, and defense industries. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Surgical Technologist in Tampa, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $62,910 for Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055) in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metropolitan area, based on 1,260 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$45,990
25th percentile
$58,730
Median
$62,910
75th percentile
$76,870
90th percentile
$98,160
Workers surveyed
1,260
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055) rather than Surgical Technologist specifically. The Tampa range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-2055Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $54,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$39,000
to $48,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$51,000
to $63,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$66,000
to $78,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$75,000
to $93,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $16,000 to the total package.
Base
$60,000
Equity
$9,000
Bonus
$6,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $76,000
How Tampa compares.
Tampa, FL
$60,000
Cost of living: 4% below average
National Average
$63,000
Tampa is $3,000 below
Surgical Technologist salary by city.
Salary by role in Tampa.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Surgical Technologist roles in Tampa, here is what you are walking into. Tampa's economy combines a strong financial services sector with growing tech, healthcare, and defense industries. The city has attracted remote workers and corporate relocations seeking Florida's tax advantages. Tampa offers a favorable salary to cost of living ratio, with compensation levels that have risen significantly as the metro continues to grow. Surgical specialty drives compensation, with cardiovascular, neuro, and robotic surgery techs earning the most. Certification through NBSTSA is increasingly required and commands higher pay. Level I trauma centers and academic medical centers pay above community hospitals, and call pay for after-hours coverage adds meaningful income.
New surgical techs start at $45,000 to $50,000 with certification. Experienced techs in specialty ORs earn $58,000 to $68,000 after five years. Lead surgical techs or first assistants can reach $70,000 to $82,000, with surgical first assist certification opening the highest pay tier. In Tampa, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Surgical techs receive call pay of $3 to $6 per hour when on standby, plus overtime for emergency cases. Benefits include health insurance, scrub allowances, and certification renewal reimbursement. Some hospitals offer retention bonuses in tight labor markets. And on the tax side: florida has no state income tax, which is Tampa's biggest compensation advantage. There are no local income taxes either. Property taxes and insurance costs are the main financial considerations. When someone quotes you $60,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Frame your salary expectations against the no income tax benefit. Tampa employers know candidates are factoring in the tax savings, so be explicit about how it shapes your number. The range for Surgical Technologists in Tampa runs from $49,000 to $73,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- An Electrician in Tampa earns $59,000 (2% less)
- The highest-paying role in Tampa is General Counsel at $280,000
Common questions.
Surgical Technologist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Tampa.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Surgical Technologist Salary in Tampa, FL." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/surgical-technologist/tampa
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