How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Cary, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Cary, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Raleigh · Cary metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Cary, North Carolina earns $29.56 per hour, or $61,480 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,123 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,220, and the top 10% of earners make over $77,460.
That pay is 1% above the North Carolina figure of $60,920 and 5% below the national figure of $64,650. Cary ranks 6th of 13 metro areas in North Carolina for Surgical Tech pay. About 560 Surgical Techs work in the Raleigh · Cary area. Cary is part of the Raleigh · Cary metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Raleigh share these figures.
Surgical Tech pay in Cary at a glance
- Typical pay is $29.56 an hour, or $61,480 a year.
- That is 1% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 6th of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,220; the top 10% make over $77,460.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Cary?
Pay in Cary runs from entry-level positions at around $23.66 an hour to more than $37.24 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Carolina and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Cary
| Career stage | Cary | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $49,220$23.66 an hour | $45,990$22.11 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $58,240$28.00 an hour | $51,540$24.78 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $61,480$29.56 an hour | $60,920$29.29 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $74,540$35.84 an hour | $68,520$32.94 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $77,460$37.24 an hour | $78,650$37.81 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Raleigh · Cary area as BLS defines it
How Cary compares with other North Carolina cities
Greenville pays Surgical Techs the most in North Carolina at $76,820 a year, $15,340 more than Cary. The lowest-paying area in the state is Pinehurst at $56,510.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Cary | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville | $76,820 | $36.93 | +25% | 100 |
| 2 | Fayetteville | $65,660 | $31.57 | +7% | 100 |
| 3 | Asheville | $65,450 | $31.47 | +6% | 160 |
| 4 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $65,370 | $31.43 | +6% | 420 |
| 5 | Charlotte | $63,490 | $30.52 | +3% | 1,170 |
| 6 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $61,480 | $29.56 | this city | 560 |
| 7 | Salem metro incl. Winston | $60,920 | $29.29 | -1% | 480 |
| 8 | Wilmington | $60,900 | $29.28 | -1% | 210 |
| 9 | Chapel Hill metro incl. Durham | $60,610 | $29.14 | -1% | 370 |
| 10 | Greensboro metro incl. High Point | $59,070 | $28.40 | -4% | 340 |
| 11 | Rocky Mount | $57,570 | $27.68 | -6% | 40 |
| 12 | Lenoir | $57,000 | $27.40 | -7% | 180 |
| 13 | Southern Pines metro incl. Pinehurst | $56,510 | $27.17 | -8% | 130 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $60,920
Is Cary a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Cary earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $61,480 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Raleigh · Cary area, about 0.8 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.8. Surgical Tech jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Cary, NC?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Cary earns $61,480 a year, or $29.56 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $49,220 and the top 10% earn over $77,460.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Cary?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Cary is $29.56. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.66, and the top 10% earn over $37.24 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Cary?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Cary typically offer around $23.66 an hour, or $49,220 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Cary higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Cary pay is 1% above the North Carolina figure of $60,920 a year, ranking 6th of 13 metro areas in the state. Greenville pays the most in North Carolina at $76,820.