How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Reading, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Reading, from federal wage data (May 2024), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2024 · Reading
A typical Surgical Tech in Reading, Pennsylvania earns $31.27 per hour, or $65,040 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2024). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,420 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,160, and the top 10% of earners make over $83,000.
That pay is 4% above the Pennsylvania figure of $62,680 and 1% above the national figure of $64,650. About 90 Surgical Techs work in Reading.
Surgical Tech pay in Reading at a glance
- Typical pay is $31.27 an hour, or $65,040 a year.
- That is 4% above the Pennsylvania figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,160; the top 10% make over $83,000.
- Typical pay rose +61% from 2015 to 2024, against +50% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2024
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Reading?
Pay in Reading runs from entry-level positions at around $23.64 an hour to more than $39.91 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Reading
| Career stage | Reading | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $49,160$23.64 an hour | $47,130$22.66 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $54,050$25.99 an hour | $52,060$25.03 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $65,040$31.27 an hour | $62,680$30.14 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $83,000$39.91 an hour | $72,020$34.63 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $83,000$39.91 an hour | $77,760$37.38 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 Reading as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Reading
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in Reading · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2024 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Reading was $40,330 a year. By 2024 it had reached $65,040, a change of +61%, compared with +50% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How Reading compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays Surgical Techs the most in Pennsylvania at $69,650 a year, $4,610 more than Reading. The lowest-paying area in the state is Altoona at $52,060.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Reading | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $69,650 | $33.49 | +7% | 2,020 |
| 2 | Lancaster | $62,680 | $30.14 | -4% | 240 |
| 3 | Hanover metro incl. York | $62,670 | $30.13 | -4% | 150 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh | $62,370 | $29.99 | -4% | 890 |
| 5 | Allentown | $62,250 | $29.93 | -4% | 370 |
| 6 | Carlisle metro incl. Harrisburg | $61,730 | $29.68 | -5% | 330 |
| 7 | Erie | $60,440 | $29.06 | -7% | 100 |
| 8 | Altoona | $52,060 | $25.03 | -20% | 40 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $62,680
Is Reading a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Tech pay in Reading sits close to the national figure: $65,040 a year, 1% above the national rate.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Reading, PA?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Reading earns $65,040 a year, or $31.27 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2024. Entry-level pay runs about $49,160 and the top 10% earn over $83,000.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Reading?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Reading is $31.27. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.64, and the top 10% earn over $39.91 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Reading?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Reading typically offer around $23.64 an hour, or $49,160 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Reading higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- Reading pay is 4% above the Pennsylvania figure of $62,680 a year. Philadelphia pays the most in Pennsylvania at $69,650.