How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Athens, GA in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Athens, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Georgia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Athens · Clarke County metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Athens, Georgia earns $30.75 per hour, or $63,950 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,329 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $46,550, and the top 10% of earners make over $78,020.
That pay is right at the Georgia figure of $64,010 and 1% below the national figure of $64,650. Athens ranks 3rd of 11 metro areas in Georgia for Surgical Tech pay. About 140 Surgical Techs work in the Athens · Clarke County area. Athens is part of the Athens · Clarke County metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Clarke County share these figures.
Surgical Tech pay in Athens at a glance
- Typical pay is $30.75 an hour, or $63,950 a year.
- That is right at the Georgia figure, ranking 3rd of 11 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $46,550; the top 10% make over $78,020.
- Typical pay rose +56% from 2015 to 2025, against +64% for Georgia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Athens?
Pay in Athens runs from entry-level positions at around $22.38 an hour to more than $37.51 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Georgia and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Athens
| Career stage | Athens | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $46,550$22.38 an hour | $40,390$19.42 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $57,680$27.73 an hour | $50,480$24.27 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $63,950$30.75 an hour | $64,010$30.77 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $76,460$36.76 an hour | $78,410$37.70 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $78,020$37.51 an hour | $84,040$40.41 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Athens · Clarke County area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Athens
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Athens · Clarke County area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Athens was $41,010 a year. By 2025 it had reached $63,950, a change of +56%, compared with +64% for Georgia over the same years.
How Athens compares with other Georgia cities
Atlanta pays Surgical Techs the most in Georgia at $67,570 a year, $3,620 more than Athens. The lowest-paying area in the state is Valdosta at $46,410.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Athens | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta metro incl. Sandy Springs · Roswell | $67,570 | $32.49 | +6% | 2,400 |
| 2 | Savannah | $63,990 | $30.77 | 0% | 270 |
| 3 | Athens metro incl. Clarke County | $63,950 | $30.75 | this city | 140 |
| 4 | Macon metro incl. Bibb County | $60,690 | $29.18 | -5% | 130 |
| 5 | Augusta metro incl. Richmond County | $60,300 | $28.99 | -6% | 250 |
| 6 | Albany | $59,920 | $28.81 | -6% | 90 |
| 7 | Columbus | $58,170 | $27.97 | -9% | 120 |
| 8 | Dalton | $57,590 | $27.69 | -10% | 30 |
| 9 | Rome | $50,900 | $24.47 | -20% | 80 |
| 10 | Warner Robins | $50,640 | $24.35 | -21% | 40 |
| 11 | Valdosta | $46,410 | $22.31 | -27% | 40 |
Every metro area in Georgia with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Georgia typical pay $64,010
Is Athens a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Tech pay in Athens sits close to the national figure: $63,950 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Athens · Clarke County area, about 1.5 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 Athens, GA?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Athens earns $63,950 a year, or $30.75 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $46,550 and the top 10% earn over $78,020.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Athens?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Athens is $30.75. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $22.38, and the top 10% earn over $37.51 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Athens?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Athens typically offer around $22.38 an hour, or $46,550 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Athens higher than in the rest of Georgia?
- Athens pay is right at the Georgia figure of $64,010 a year, ranking 3rd of 11 metro areas in the state. Atlanta pays the most in Georgia at $67,570.