How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Princeton, NJ in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Princeton, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across New Jersey.
BLS OES May 2025 · Trenton · Princeton metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Princeton, New Jersey earns $33.95 per hour, or $70,610 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,884 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $53,780, and the top 10% of earners make over $90,310.
That pay is 9% below the New Jersey figure of $77,200 and 9% above the national figure of $64,650. Princeton ranks 2nd of 5 metro areas in New Jersey for Surgical Tech pay. About 150 Surgical Techs work in the Trenton · Princeton area. Princeton is part of the Trenton · Princeton metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Trenton share these figures.
Surgical Tech pay in Princeton at a glance
- Typical pay is $33.95 an hour, or $70,610 a year.
- That is 9% below the New Jersey figure, ranking 2nd of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $53,780; the top 10% make over $90,310.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Princeton?
Pay in Princeton runs from entry-level positions at around $25.86 an hour to more than $43.42 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the New Jersey and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Princeton
| Career stage | Princeton | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $53,780$25.86 an hour | $48,270$23.21 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $59,870$28.78 an hour | $64,440$30.98 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $70,610$33.95 an hour | $77,200$37.12 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $79,090$38.03 an hour | $85,700$41.20 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $90,310$43.42 an hour | $100,490$48.31 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Trenton · Princeton area as BLS defines it
How Princeton compares with other New Jersey cities
Jersey City pays Surgical Techs the most in New Jersey at $84,120 a year, $13,510 more than Princeton. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bethlehem at $62,250.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Princeton | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City metro incl. Newark | $84,120 | $40.44 | +19% | 6,320 |
| 2 | Princeton metro incl. Trenton | $70,610 | $33.95 | this city | 150 |
| 3 | Camden | $69,650 | $33.49 | -1% | 2,020 |
| 4 | Atlantic City metro incl. Hammonton | $63,250 | $30.41 | -10% | 160 |
| 5 | Easton metro incl. Bethlehem | $62,250 | $29.93 | -12% | 370 |
Every metro area in New Jersey with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · New Jersey typical pay $77,200
Is Princeton a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Princeton earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $70,610 a year, 9% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Trenton · Princeton area, about 0.6 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.7. That makes Surgical Techs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Princeton, NJ?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Princeton earns $70,610 a year, or $33.95 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $53,780 and the top 10% earn over $90,310.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Princeton?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Princeton is $33.95. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $25.86, and the top 10% earn over $43.42 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Princeton?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Princeton typically offer around $25.86 an hour, or $53,780 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Princeton higher than in the rest of New Jersey?
- Princeton pay is 9% below the New Jersey figure of $77,200 a year, ranking 2nd of 5 metro areas in the state. Jersey City pays the most in New Jersey at $84,120.