How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Durham, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Durham, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Durham · Chapel Hill metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Durham, North Carolina earns $29.14 per hour, or $60,610 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,051 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,950, and the top 10% of earners make over $82,170.
That pay is 1% below the North Carolina figure of $60,920 and 6% below the national figure of $64,650. Durham ranks 9th of 13 metro areas in North Carolina for Surgical Tech pay. About 370 Surgical Techs work in the Durham · Chapel Hill area. Durham is part of the Durham · Chapel Hill metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Chapel Hill share these figures.
Surgical Tech pay in Durham at a glance
- Typical pay is $29.14 an hour, or $60,610 a year.
- That is 1% below the North Carolina figure, ranking 9th of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,950; the top 10% make over $82,170.
- Typical pay rose +38% from 2015 to 2025, against +56% for North Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Durham?
Pay in Durham runs from entry-level positions at around $19.21 an hour to more than $39.50 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 Durham
| Career stage | Durham | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,950$19.21 an hour | $45,990$22.11 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $49,720$23.91 an hour | $51,540$24.78 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $60,610$29.14 an hour | $60,920$29.29 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $68,520$32.94 an hour | $68,520$32.94 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $82,170$39.50 an hour | $78,650$37.81 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Durham · Chapel Hill area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Durham
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Durham · Chapel Hill area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Durham was $43,880 a year. By 2025 it had reached $60,610, a change of +38%, compared with +56% for North Carolina over the same years.
How Durham compares with other North Carolina cities
Greenville pays Surgical Techs the most in North Carolina at $76,820 a year, $16,210 more than Durham. The lowest-paying area in the state is Pinehurst at $56,510.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Durham | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville | $76,820 | $36.93 | +27% | 100 |
| 2 | Fayetteville | $65,660 | $31.57 | +8% | 100 |
| 3 | Asheville | $65,450 | $31.47 | +8% | 160 |
| 4 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $65,370 | $31.43 | +8% | 420 |
| 5 | Charlotte | $63,490 | $30.52 | +5% | 1,170 |
| 6 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $61,480 | $29.56 | +1% | 560 |
| 7 | Salem metro incl. Winston | $60,920 | $29.29 | +1% | 480 |
| 8 | Wilmington | $60,900 | $29.28 | 0% | 210 |
| 9 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $60,610 | $29.14 | this city | 370 |
| 10 | Greensboro metro incl. High Point | $59,070 | $28.40 | -3% | 340 |
| 11 | Rocky Mount | $57,570 | $27.68 | -5% | 40 |
| 12 | Lenoir | $57,000 | $27.40 | -6% | 180 |
| 13 | Southern Pines metro incl. Pinehurst | $56,510 | $27.17 | -7% | 130 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $60,920
Is Durham a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Durham earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $60,610 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Durham · Chapel Hill area, about 1.1 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.8. 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 Durham, NC?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Durham earns $60,610 a year, or $29.14 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,950 and the top 10% earn over $82,170.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Durham?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Durham is $29.14. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.21, and the top 10% earn over $39.50 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Durham?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Durham typically offer around $19.21 an hour, or $39,950 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Durham higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Durham pay is 1% below the North Carolina figure of $60,920 a year, ranking 9th of 13 metro areas in the state. Greenville pays the most in North Carolina at $76,820.