How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Iowa in 2026?

A typical Surgical Tech in Iowa earns about $29.11 per hour ($60,540 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $5,045 a month and $1,164 a week, calculated from the annual figure. Pay varies by employer, shift, and hospital setting, but these figures reflect typical wages across the state.

Iowa's typical pay sits 6% below the national figure of $64,650 per year, and the state ranks 41st out of 51 states and territories for Surgical Tech pay. About 950 Surgical Techs work in Iowa, a workforce large enough to make these figures reliable. Lower pay in Iowa often tracks lower living costs compared with higher-cost states.

Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Iowa typically offer around $22.73 an hour ($47,280 a year). Techs just starting out, or those with newer certification, often see pay closer to $24.37 an hour ($50,680 a year) within their first few years. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical wage of $29.11 an hour as techs gain experience and take on more complex surgical caseloads.

Experienced Surgical Techs in Iowa often earn upwards of $30.23 an hour ($62,880 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $36.11 an hour, or $75,100 a year. That leaves a spread of $27,820 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years on the job, and which Iowa city a tech works in all factor into where someone lands within that range.

Iowa Surgical Tech pay has climbed from $38,770 a year in 2015 to $60,540 in 2025, a gain of $21,770, or 56%, over the decade. That rise has been steady, with pay climbing in every year of the period rather than in one sudden jump. By 2025, typical pay had crossed the $60,000 mark for the first time.

That 56% increase outpaces the 46% rise seen nationally over the same decade, meaning Iowa pay has been catching up rather than falling further behind. For someone starting as a Surgical Tech in Iowa now, this record shows pay has moved up consistently in recent years. Nothing about that trend is guaranteed to continue, but it reflects a decade of real gains in the field.

Surgical Tech pay runs highest in the Des Moines metro area, where typical pay reaches $62,250 a year ($29.93 an hour), about 3% above the state figure. West Des Moines, part of the same metro area, matches that figure. Davenport and Dubuque also post pay above $60,500 a year, keeping the top tier of Iowa cities fairly close together.

Pay runs lowest in the Iowa City metro area, at $58,930 a year ($28.33 an hour), putting the spread between Iowa's highest- and lowest-paying cities at $3,320. Des Moines also has the largest Surgical Tech workforce among Iowa's metro areas, with 230 workers counted in the latest data. These figures reflect each metro area as a whole, and cities with higher pay generally also carry higher living costs.

Among Iowa's neighbors, Minnesota pays Surgical Techs the most, with typical pay of $80,210 a year, 32% above Iowa's figure. Wisconsin follows at $74,120, 22% higher. Illinois and Nebraska pay closer to Iowa's level, while South Dakota's typical pay of $59,870 runs about 1% below Iowa's. Surgical Tech licensure or certification earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby state, easing a move across these borders.

Surgical Techs in Iowa typically earn $60,540 a year ($29.11 an hour), a figure that has risen 56% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience level, with Des Moines at the top and entry-level techs starting closer to $47,280. For current licensing or registry requirements, check Iowa's state board page, and compare local figures on individual city pages before choosing where to work or apply.