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

A typical Surgical Tech in Indiana earns about $30.89 per hour, or $64,240 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Based on that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $5,353 a month and $1,235 a week. Those figures represent typical pay across the state, before accounting for city or experience differences.

That figure is 1% below the national typical pay of $64,650 ($31.08 an hour), placing Indiana 23rd among the 51 states and Washington, D.C. Lower pay compared with the national figure often tracks a lower cost of living rather than a difference in the work itself. About 2,680 Surgical Techs work across the state, compared with 117,460 nationwide.

Entry-level positions in Indiana typically offer around $24.69 an hour, or about $51,350 a year, according to the same wage data. Pay tends to rise from there as Surgical Techs gain hands-on experience in the operating room. Within a few years, many reach the state's typical pay of $30.89 an hour, or $64,240 a year.

Experienced Surgical Techs in Indiana often earn upwards of $37.12 an hour, or about $77,210 a year, and the top 10% make over $38.75 an hour, or $80,600 a year. That leaves a spread of $29,250 between entry-level and top-earning positions. Setting, years on the job, and the city where someone works all factor into where an individual lands within that range.

Indiana's Surgical Tech pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, rising from $41,450 in 2015 to $64,240 in 2025. That is a gain of $22,790, or 55%, according to the same wage data. Pay rose in nearly every year of that decade, with the sharpest jump coming between 2021 and 2022.

The national typical pay rose 46% over the same decade, so Indiana's gain outpaced the country as a whole. Pay for Surgical Techs has moved up substantially since 2015, though nothing about that trend guarantees future increases. Someone starting out in Indiana today enters a field where typical pay has grown faster than the national rate over the past ten years.

Pay runs highest in Mishawaka and South Bend, where Surgical Techs typically earn $67,660 a year, or $32.53 an hour, about 5% above the state figure. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area, which extends into northwest Indiana, pays close behind at $66,360 a year and employs more Surgical Techs (2,530) than any other metro tied to the state. Indianapolis, the state's largest city by population, sits at the state's typical pay of $64,240 a year.

Pay runs lowest in Elkhart and Goshen, at $60,360 a year, or $29.02 an hour. That leaves a spread of $7,300 between the highest- and lowest-paying areas in the state. Figures for each area cover its full metro area, not just the city itself. Lower pay in these areas often lines up with a lower cost of living compared with the state's larger metro centers.

Indiana's typical pay sits close to its neighbors. Illinois pays slightly more, at $64,650 a year, about 1% above Indiana, while Michigan ($63,320), Ohio ($62,420), and Kentucky ($60,490) all pay less, with Kentucky trailing by 6%. Someone weighing a move across state lines will find the differences modest outside of Kentucky. Surgical Tech licensure or certification earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though the process varies by state.

Surgical Techs in Indiana typically earn $64,240 a year, or $30.89 an hour, a figure that has risen 55% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience, but the overall trend has moved upward. Anyone considering the field should check Indiana's state licensing or registry requirements for Surgical Techs, and look at city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to work.