How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Memphis, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Memphis, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Memphis metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Memphis, Tennessee earns $29.40 per hour, or $61,150 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,096 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,390, and the top 10% of earners make over $77,630.
That pay is 1% above the Tennessee figure of $60,530 and 5% below the national figure of $64,650. Memphis ranks 2nd of 8 metro areas in Tennessee for Surgical Tech pay. About 630 Surgical Techs work in the Memphis area.
Surgical Tech pay in Memphis at a glance
- Typical pay is $29.40 an hour, or $61,150 a year.
- That is 1% above the Tennessee figure, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,390; the top 10% make over $77,630.
- Typical pay rose +50% from 2015 to 2025, against +59% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Memphis?
Pay in Memphis runs from entry-level positions at around $23.74 an hour to more than $37.32 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 Memphis
| Career stage | Memphis | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $49,390$23.74 an hour | $47,620$22.89 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $52,840$25.40 an hour | $51,310$24.67 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $61,150$29.40 an hour | $60,530$29.10 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $67,270$32.34 an hour | $64,430$30.98 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $77,630$37.32 an hour | $75,920$36.50 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Memphis area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Memphis
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Memphis area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Memphis was $40,820 a year. By 2025 it had reached $61,150, a change of +50%, compared with +59% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Memphis compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays Surgical Techs the most in Tennessee at $63,120 a year, $1,970 more than Memphis. The lowest-paying area in the state is Clarksville at $52,510.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Memphis | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $63,120 | $30.35 | +3% | 1,120 |
| 2 | Memphis | $61,150 | $29.40 | this city | 630 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $60,900 | $29.28 | 0% | 380 |
| 4 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $60,500 | $29.09 | -1% | 110 |
| 5 | Johnson City | $59,180 | $28.45 | -3% | 120 |
| 6 | Jackson | $59,090 | $28.41 | -3% | 70 |
| 7 | Knoxville | $54,900 | $26.39 | -10% | 520 |
| 8 | Clarksville | $52,510 | $25.24 | -14% | 70 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $60,530
Is Memphis a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Memphis earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $61,150 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Memphis area, about 1.0 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 Memphis, TN?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Memphis earns $61,150 a year, or $29.40 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $49,390 and the top 10% earn over $77,630.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Memphis?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Memphis is $29.40. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.74, and the top 10% earn over $37.32 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Memphis?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Memphis typically offer around $23.74 an hour, or $49,390 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Memphis higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Memphis pay is 1% above the Tennessee figure of $60,530 a year, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $63,120.