How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Lakeland, FL in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Lakeland, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Florida.
BLS OES May 2025 · Lakeland · Winter Haven metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Lakeland, Florida earns $28.62 per hour, or $59,540 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,962 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $44,150, and the top 10% of earners make over $68,160.
That pay is 5% below the Florida figure of $62,440 and 8% below the national figure of $64,650. Lakeland ranks 13th of 18 metro areas in Florida for Surgical Tech pay. About 280 Surgical Techs work in the Lakeland · Winter Haven area. Lakeland is part of the Lakeland · Winter Haven metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Winter Haven share these figures.
Surgical Tech pay in Lakeland at a glance
- Typical pay is $28.62 an hour, or $59,540 a year.
- That is 5% below the Florida figure, ranking 13th of 18 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $44,150; the top 10% make over $68,160.
- Typical pay rose +48% from 2015 to 2025, against +54% for Florida as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Lakeland?
Pay in Lakeland runs from entry-level positions at around $21.23 an hour to more than $32.77 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Florida and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Lakeland
| Career stage | Lakeland | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $44,150$21.23 an hour | $41,270$19.84 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $55,090$26.49 an hour | $52,410$25.20 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $59,540$28.62 an hour | $62,440$30.02 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $68,160$32.77 an hour | $75,170$36.14 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $68,160$32.77 an hour | $85,620$41.16 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lakeland · Winter Haven area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Lakeland
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Lakeland · Winter Haven area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Lakeland was $40,270 a year. By 2025 it had reached $59,540, a change of +48%, compared with +54% for Florida over the same years.
How Lakeland compares with other Florida cities
Port St. Lucie pays Surgical Techs the most in Florida at $65,780 a year, $6,240 more than Lakeland. The lowest-paying area in the state is Melbourne at $50,500.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lakeland | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port St. Lucie | $65,780 | $31.63 | +10% | 200 |
| 2 | West Palm Beach metro incl. Fort Lauderdale · Miami | $65,520 | $31.50 | +10% | 2,200 |
| 3 | Naples metro incl. Marco Island | $64,910 | $31.21 | +9% | 110 |
| 4 | Jacksonville | $64,070 | $30.80 | +8% | 850 |
| 5 | Sebastian metro incl. West Vero Corridor · Vero Beach | $63,530 | $30.54 | +7% | 80 |
| 6 | St. Petersburg metro incl. Tampa · Clearwater | $62,910 | $30.25 | +6% | 1,260 |
| 7 | Punta Gorda | $62,450 | $30.02 | +5% | 50 |
| 8 | Destin metro incl. Fort Walton Beach · Crestview | $61,830 | $29.73 | +4% | 90 |
| 9 | Cape Coral metro incl. Fort Myers | $61,780 | $29.70 | +4% | 350 |
| 10 | Orlando | $61,730 | $29.68 | +4% | 1,490 |
| 11 | North Port | $60,840 | $29.25 | +2% | 380 |
| 12 | Brent metro incl. Pensacola · Ferry Pass | $60,520 | $29.10 | +2% | 220 |
| 13 | Lakeland metro incl. Winter Haven | $59,540 | $28.62 | this city | 280 |
| 14 | Deltona metro incl. Ormond Beach · Daytona Beach | $59,400 | $28.56 | 0% | 340 |
| 15 | Ocala | $59,070 | $28.40 | -1% | 140 |
| 16 | Panama City metro incl. Panama City Beach | $58,570 | $28.16 | -2% | 70 |
| 17 | Tallahassee | $52,190 | $25.09 | -12% | 170 |
| 18 | Titusville | $50,500 | $24.28 | -15% | 230 |
Every metro area in Florida with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Florida typical pay $62,440
Is Lakeland a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Lakeland earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $59,540 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lakeland · Winter Haven area, about 1.1 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.8. That makes the local economy more reliant on Surgical Techs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Lakeland, FL?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Lakeland earns $59,540 a year, or $28.62 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $44,150 and the top 10% earn over $68,160.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Lakeland?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Lakeland is $28.62. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $21.23, and the top 10% earn over $32.77 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Lakeland?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Lakeland typically offer around $21.23 an hour, or $44,150 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Lakeland higher than in the rest of Florida?
- Lakeland pay is 5% below the Florida figure of $62,440 a year, ranking 13th of 18 metro areas in the state. Port St. Lucie pays the most in Florida at $65,780.