How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Wisconsin in 2026?

A typical Surgical Tech in Wisconsin earns about $35.64 per hour ($74,120 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $6,177 a month and $1,425 a week, both calculated from the annual figure. Pay in the state covers a wide range depending on setting and experience. Hospitals in larger metro areas tend to sit toward the higher end of that range.

That figure sits 15% above the national figure of $64,650 a year, and Wisconsin ranks 16th out of 51 states and D.C. for Surgical Tech pay. Roughly 2,180 Surgical Techs work across the state, compared with 117,460 nationwide. The gap between Wisconsin and the national figure often tracks differences in local living costs and hospital pay scales.

Entry-level positions in Wisconsin typically offer around $28.56 to $30.30 an hour, or about $59,410 to $63,030 a year. That range covers technicians just starting out, often in smaller facilities or general surgery units. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical pay of $35.64 an hour within the first few years on the job. Additional certifications and specialty training can speed that climb.

Experienced Surgical Techs in Wisconsin often earn upwards of $37.99 to $41.67 an hour, or $79,010 to $86,670 a year, and the top 10% of earners make over $86,670 annually. That leaves a spread of $27,260 between entry-level and top pay. The difference usually comes down to years on the job, the surgical specialty involved, and whether the position sits in a hospital system or a larger city.

Wisconsin's Surgical Tech pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, from $49,860 in 2015 to $74,120 in 2025. That's a gain of $24,260, or a 49% rise, in ten years. The increase has been fairly steady year over year, without any sharp drops along the way. Recent years show some of the largest single-year jumps in the data.

Nationally, Surgical Tech pay rose 46% over the same ten years, so Wisconsin's increase has slightly outpaced the country as a whole. Both figures reflect a full decade of hospital wage growth, not a single-year spike. For someone starting out now, that decade of steady gains points to pay that has moved up consistently. Nothing about future pay is guaranteed, but the trend line has been consistently upward.

Pay runs highest in the St. Paul metro area, which extends into western Wisconsin, where Surgical Techs earn $82,000 a year, about 11% above the state figure. Madison follows at $75,930 a year, and Eau Claire pays $74,900. Milwaukee, the state's largest city, sits close behind at $74,830 a year. Pay across these larger metro areas stays fairly close together.

Pay is lowest in Kenosha, at $60,090 a year, a spread of $21,910 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities on the list. The St. Paul metro area also has the largest Surgical Tech workforce among Wisconsin's listed cities, with 1,080 employed there. City figures cover the full metro area around each one, not just the city center. Lower pay in smaller cities like Kenosha usually lines up with lower living costs in those areas.

Wisconsin's Surgical Tech pay compares closely with its neighbors. Minnesota pays more, at $80,210 a year, about 8% above Wisconsin's figure. Iowa pays the least among the four, at $60,540, about 18% below Wisconsin, while Illinois and Michigan also pay less, at $64,650 and $63,320. Surgical Tech licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which can make comparing job offers across the border worthwhile.

Surgical Techs in Wisconsin typically earn $74,120 a year, a figure that has climbed 49% over the past decade. That pay sits above the national figure and varies somewhat by city, with the St. Paul metro area and Madison paying the most. Readers considering the field can check Wisconsin's licensing or registry requirements for Surgical Techs, and look at city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to work.