How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Bristol, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Bristol, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Bristol, Tennessee earns $29.09 per hour, or $60,500 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,042 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $40,350, and the top 10% of earners make over $77,200.
That pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $60,530 and 6% below the national figure of $64,650. Bristol ranks 4th of 8 metro areas in Tennessee for Surgical Tech pay. About 110 Surgical Techs work in the Kingsport · Bristol area. Bristol is part of the Kingsport · Bristol metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Kingsport share these figures.
Surgical Tech pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $29.09 an hour, or $60,500 a year.
- That is right at the Tennessee figure, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $40,350; the top 10% make over $77,200.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $19.40 an hour to more than $37.12 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $40,350$19.40 an hour | $47,620$22.89 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $49,900$23.99 an hour | $51,310$24.67 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $60,500$29.09 an hour | $60,530$29.10 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $72,300$34.76 an hour | $64,430$30.98 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $77,200$37.12 an hour | $75,920$36.50 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
How Bristol compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays Surgical Techs the most in Tennessee at $63,120 a year, $2,620 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Clarksville at $52,510.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $63,120 | $30.35 | +4% | 1,120 |
| 2 | Memphis | $61,150 | $29.40 | +1% | 630 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $60,900 | $29.28 | +1% | 380 |
| 4 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $60,500 | $29.09 | this city | 110 |
| 5 | Johnson City | $59,180 | $28.45 | -2% | 120 |
| 6 | Jackson | $59,090 | $28.41 | -2% | 70 |
| 7 | Knoxville | $54,900 | $26.39 | -9% | 520 |
| 8 | Clarksville | $52,510 | $25.24 | -13% | 70 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $60,530
Is Bristol a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Bristol earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $60,500 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol area, about 0.9 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 Bristol, TN?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Bristol earns $60,500 a year, or $29.09 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $40,350 and the top 10% earn over $77,200.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Bristol is $29.09. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.40, and the top 10% earn over $37.12 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Bristol?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Bristol typically offer around $19.40 an hour, or $40,350 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Bristol pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $60,530 a year, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $63,120.