How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Rochester, MN in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Rochester, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Minnesota.
BLS OES May 2025 · Rochester metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Rochester, Minnesota earns $37.54 per hour, or $78,070 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,506 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $60,080, and the top 10% of earners make over $95,310.
That pay is 3% below the Minnesota figure of $80,210 and 21% above the national figure of $64,650. Rochester ranks 2nd of 4 metro areas in Minnesota for Surgical Tech pay. About 170 Surgical Techs work in the Rochester area.
Surgical Tech pay in Rochester at a glance
- Typical pay is $37.54 an hour, or $78,070 a year.
- That is 3% below the Minnesota figure, ranking 2nd of 4 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $60,080; the top 10% make over $95,310.
- Typical pay rose +54% from 2015 to 2025, against +58% for Minnesota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Rochester?
Pay in Rochester runs from entry-level positions at around $28.88 an hour to more than $45.82 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Minnesota and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Rochester
| Career stage | Rochester | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $60,080$28.88 an hour | $62,820$30.20 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $77,910$37.46 an hour | $72,730$34.97 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $78,070$37.54 an hour | $80,210$38.56 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $95,310$45.82 an hour | $86,420$41.55 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $95,310$45.82 an hour | $98,470$47.34 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rochester area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Rochester
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Rochester area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Rochester was $50,760 a year. By 2025 it had reached $78,070, a change of +54%, compared with +58% for Minnesota over the same years.
How Rochester compares with other Minnesota cities
Minneapolis pays Surgical Techs the most in Minnesota at $82,000 a year, $3,930 more than Rochester. The lowest-paying area in the state is St. Cloud at $69,270.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rochester | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis | $82,000 | $39.43 | +5% | 1,080 |
| 2 | Rochester | $78,070 | $37.54 | this city | 170 |
| 3 | Duluth | $72,360 | $34.79 | -7% | 110 |
| 4 | St. Cloud | $69,270 | $33.30 | -11% | 90 |
Every metro area in Minnesota with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Minnesota typical pay $80,210
Is Rochester a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Rochester earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $78,070 a year, 21% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rochester area, about 1.4 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.7. 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 Rochester, MN?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Rochester earns $78,070 a year, or $37.54 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $60,080 and the top 10% earn over $95,310.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Rochester?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Rochester is $37.54. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $28.88, and the top 10% earn over $45.82 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Rochester?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Rochester typically offer around $28.88 an hour, or $60,080 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Rochester higher than in the rest of Minnesota?
- Rochester pay is 3% below the Minnesota figure of $80,210 a year, ranking 2nd of 4 metro areas in the state. Minneapolis pays the most in Minnesota at $82,000.