How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Washington, DC in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Washington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across District of Columbia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Washington · Arlington · Alexandria metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Washington, District of Columbia earns $37.86 per hour, or $78,750 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,563 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $46,240, and the top 10% of earners make over $102,420.
That pay is 2% above the District of Columbia figure of $77,520 and 22% above the national figure of $64,650. About 1,430 Surgical Techs work in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area.
Surgical Tech pay in Washington at a glance
- Typical pay is $37.86 an hour, or $78,750 a year.
- That is 2% above the District of Columbia figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $46,240; the top 10% make over $102,420.
- Typical pay rose +42% from 2015 to 2025, against +37% for District of Columbia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Washington?
Pay in Washington runs from entry-level positions at around $22.23 an hour to more than $49.24 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the District of Columbia and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Washington
| Career stage | Washington | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $46,240$22.23 an hour | $37,800$18.17 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $63,990$30.76 an hour | $49,260$23.68 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $78,750$37.86 an hour | $77,520$37.27 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $92,840$44.63 an hour | $83,780$40.28 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $102,420$49.24 an hour | $101,180$48.64 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Washington
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Washington was $55,440 a year. By 2025 it had reached $78,750, a change of +42%, compared with +37% for District of Columbia over the same years.
Is Washington a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Washington earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $78,750 a year, 22% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area, about 0.5 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.7. That makes Surgical Techs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Washington, DC?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Washington earns $78,750 a year, or $37.86 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $46,240 and the top 10% earn over $102,420.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Washington?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Washington is $37.86. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $22.23, and the top 10% earn over $49.24 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Washington?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Washington typically offer around $22.23 an hour, or $46,240 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Washington higher than in the rest of District of Columbia?
- Washington pay is 2% above the District of Columbia figure of $77,520 a year, ranking 1st of 1 metro areas in the state.