How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Columbia, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2024), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2024 · Columbia
A typical Surgical Tech in Columbia, Missouri earns $24.30 per hour, or $50,550 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2024). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,213 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $41,990, and the top 10% of earners make over $65,430.
That pay is 17% below the Missouri figure of $61,120 and 22% below the national figure of $64,650. About 120 Surgical Techs work in Columbia.
Surgical Tech pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $24.30 an hour, or $50,550 a year.
- That is 17% below the Missouri figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $41,990; the top 10% make over $65,430.
BLS OES May 2024
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $20.19 an hour to more than $31.46 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $41,990$20.19 an hour | $44,930$21.60 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $50,550$24.30 an hour | $50,690$24.37 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $50,550$24.30 an hour | $61,120$29.39 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $61,960$29.79 an hour | $68,410$32.89 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $65,430$31.46 an hour | $78,410$37.70 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2024 (the latest vintage BLS published for this area; state and national columns are May 2025) · city figures cover Columbia as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in Columbia · BLS OES May estimates, 2019 to 2024 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2019, typical Surgical Tech pay in Columbia was $39,140 a year. By 2024 it had reached $50,550, compared with +54% for Missouri over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other Missouri cities
Kansas City pays Surgical Techs the most in Missouri at $62,250 a year, $11,700 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cape Girardeau at $49,880.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $62,250 | $29.93 | +23% | 980 |
| 2 | St. Louis | $61,790 | $29.71 | +22% | 810 |
| 3 | Springfield | $61,120 | $29.39 | +21% | 320 |
| 4 | Joplin | $56,750 | $27.28 | +12% | 100 |
| 5 | Cape Girardeau | $49,880 | $23.98 | -1% | 60 |
Every metro area in Missouri with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $61,120
Is Columbia a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $50,550 a year, 22% below the national rate.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Columbia, MO?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Columbia earns $50,550 a year, or $24.30 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2024. Entry-level pay runs about $41,990 and the top 10% earn over $65,430.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Columbia is $24.30. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $20.19, and the top 10% earn over $31.46 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Columbia?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Columbia typically offer around $20.19 an hour, or $41,990 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Columbia pay is 17% below the Missouri figure of $61,120 a year. Kansas City pays the most in Missouri at $62,250.