How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Appleton, WI in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Appleton, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Wisconsin.
BLS OES May 2025 · Appleton metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Appleton, Wisconsin earns $32.32 per hour, or $67,220 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,602 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $56,910, and the top 10% of earners make over $81,350.
That pay is 9% below the Wisconsin figure of $74,120 and 4% above the national figure of $64,650. Appleton ranks 9th of 11 metro areas in Wisconsin for Surgical Tech pay. About 100 Surgical Techs work in the Appleton area.
Surgical Tech pay in Appleton at a glance
- Typical pay is $32.32 an hour, or $67,220 a year.
- That is 9% below the Wisconsin figure, ranking 9th of 11 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $56,910; the top 10% make over $81,350.
- Typical pay rose +37% from 2015 to 2025, against +49% for Wisconsin as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Appleton?
Pay in Appleton runs from entry-level positions at around $27.36 an hour to more than $39.11 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Wisconsin and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Appleton
| Career stage | Appleton | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $56,910$27.36 an hour | $59,410$28.56 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $62,870$30.23 an hour | $63,030$30.30 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $67,220$32.32 an hour | $74,120$35.64 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $76,890$36.97 an hour | $79,010$37.99 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $81,350$39.11 an hour | $86,670$41.67 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Appleton area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Appleton
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Appleton area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Appleton was $49,070 a year. By 2025 it had reached $67,220, a change of +37%, compared with +49% for Wisconsin over the same years.
How Appleton compares with other Wisconsin cities
St. Paul pays Surgical Techs the most in Wisconsin at $82,000 a year, $14,780 more than Appleton. The lowest-paying area in the state is Kenosha at $60,090.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Appleton | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Paul metro incl. Bloomington | $82,000 | $39.43 | +22% | 1,080 |
| 2 | Madison | $75,930 | $36.51 | +13% | 330 |
| 3 | Eau Claire | $74,900 | $36.01 | +11% | 70 |
| 4 | Milwaukee metro incl. Waukesha | $74,830 | $35.98 | +11% | 610 |
| 5 | Janesville metro incl. Beloit | $74,360 | $35.75 | +11% | 60 |
| 6 | Green Bay | $73,120 | $35.16 | +9% | 240 |
| 7 | Neenah metro incl. Oshkosh | $71,890 | $34.56 | +7% | 50 |
| 8 | Wausau | $69,430 | $33.38 | +3% | 90 |
| 9 | Appleton | $67,220 | $32.32 | this city | 100 |
| 10 | Sheboygan | $65,070 | $31.29 | -3% | 30 |
| 11 | Kenosha | $60,090 | $28.89 | -11% | 50 |
Every metro area in Wisconsin with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Wisconsin typical pay $74,120
Is Appleton a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Tech pay in Appleton sits close to the national figure: $67,220 a year, 4% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Appleton area, about 0.8 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.7. Surgical Tech jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Appleton, WI?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Appleton earns $67,220 a year, or $32.32 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $56,910 and the top 10% earn over $81,350.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Appleton?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Appleton is $32.32. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $27.36, and the top 10% earn over $39.11 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Appleton?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Appleton typically offer around $27.36 an hour, or $56,910 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Appleton higher than in the rest of Wisconsin?
- Appleton pay is 9% below the Wisconsin figure of $74,120 a year, ranking 9th of 11 metro areas in the state. St. Paul pays the most in Wisconsin at $82,000.