How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Bristol, VA 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 Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Bristol, Virginia 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 10% below the Virginia figure of $67,580 and 6% below the national figure of $64,650. Bristol ranks 5th of 5 metro areas in Virginia for Surgical Tech pay. About 110 Surgical Techs work in the Kingsport · Bristol area.
Surgical Tech pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $29.09 an hour, or $60,500 a year.
- That is 10% below the Virginia figure, ranking 5th of 5 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 Virginia and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $40,350$19.40 an hour | $47,980$23.07 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $49,900$23.99 an hour | $59,110$28.42 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $60,500$29.09 an hour | $67,580$32.49 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $72,300$34.76 an hour | $84,100$40.44 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $77,200$37.12 an hour | $102,020$49.05 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Bristol
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Kingsport · Bristol area · BLS OES May estimates, 2018 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2018, typical Surgical Tech pay in Bristol was $42,050 a year. By 2025 it had reached $60,500, compared with +47% for Virginia over the same years.
How Bristol compares with other Virginia cities
Arlington pays Surgical Techs the most in Virginia at $78,750 a year, $18,250 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bristol at $60,500.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $78,750 | $37.86 | +30% | 1,430 |
| 2 | Virginia Beach | $65,370 | $31.43 | +8% | 420 |
| 3 | Roanoke | $61,600 | $29.61 | +2% | 110 |
| 4 | Richmond | $60,980 | $29.32 | +1% | 380 |
| 5 | Bristol | $60,500 | $29.09 | this city | 110 |
Every metro area in Virginia with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $67,580
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, VA?
- 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 Virginia?
- Bristol pay is 10% below the Virginia figure of $67,580 a year, ranking 5th of 5 metro areas in the state. Arlington pays the most in Virginia at $78,750.