How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in New York in 2026?

A typical Surgical Tech in New York earns about $38.25 per hour ($79,550 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $6,629 a month and $1,530 a week, both figures calculated from the annual pay. These numbers reflect typical pay for Surgical Techs working across hospitals and surgery centers throughout the state.

New York's typical pay sits 23% above the national figure of $64,650 a year, according to the same May 2025 data. That places the state 8th among the 51 states ranked for Surgical Tech wages. Roughly 6,540 Surgical Techs work in New York, compared with 117,460 nationwide, giving the state a solid share of the profession's national workforce.

Entry-level Surgical Techs in New York typically start around $25.81 an hour, or about $53,680 a year, according to May 2025 wage data. That range describes entry-level positions across hospitals and surgery centers statewide, including workers new to the operating room. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $79,550 within the first several years on the job, as new techs build hands-on surgical experience.

Experienced Surgical Techs in New York often earn upwards of $47.18 an hour, or about $98,140 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $50.64 an hour, or more than $105,330 a year, a spread of $51,650 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all play a role in where an individual tech lands within that range, with surgery centers and major hospitals in high-cost cities generally paying more.

New York's Surgical Tech pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, rising from $50,330 in 2015 to $79,550 in 2025. That's a gain of $29,220, or 58%, according to a decade of government wage data. The increase has been fairly steady year over year, with a notable jump between 2022 and 2023 as pay moved from $63,780 to $74,180.

That 58% rise outpaces the national decade increase of 46% over the same period. Pay for Surgical Techs in New York has moved up substantially since 2015, though past growth is not a guarantee of future increases. Someone entering the field today starts from a higher base than techs did a decade ago.

Pay runs highest in New York City, where Surgical Techs typically earn $84,120 a year, about 6% above the statewide figure. Ithaca and Buffalo follow, with typical pay of $77,760 and $77,440 a year. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city center.

Rochester posts the lowest typical pay among New York's metro areas, at $60,780 a year, a spread of $23,340 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities. New York City also has by far the largest Surgical Tech workforce in the state, with 6,320 workers. Higher pay in and around New York City tracks the higher cost of living there, while lower-cost metro areas like Rochester tend to pay less.

New York's typical Surgical Tech pay compares closely with neighboring Massachusetts ($80,870, about 2% higher) and Connecticut ($79,890, about even with New York). New Jersey runs slightly lower, at $77,200, about 3% below New York's figure. Pennsylvania and Vermont pay considerably less, at $62,680 and $60,660, roughly 21% and 24% below New York's figure. Surgical Tech licensure or certification earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby state, making moves across these borders relatively straightforward.

Surgical Techs in New York typically earn $79,550 a year, a figure that has climbed 58% over the past decade. Pay varies by city, experience, and setting, from entry-level positions near $53,680 to top earners well above $100,000. Readers considering the field should check New York's state licensing or registry page for specific requirements, and review city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to work.