PermanentPosted 21 days ago
Surgical Technician - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized
Veterans Health Administration · Iowa City, IA
$48k–$78k/ year
Surgical Technologist jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA
Surgical Technologists in Iowa earn a median of $25.92 per hour, about $53,920 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $23.42 and $29.48. That is 14% below the U.S. median of $30.21 per hour. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Cedar Rapids. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Cedar Rapids.
- $25.92median pay per hour, Iowa
- $23–$29typical range per hour
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Surgical Technologist pay in Cedar Rapids, IA
Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 730 surgical technologists employed in Iowa.
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $20.13 | $41,870 | 33% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $23.42 | $48,710 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Median | $25.92 | $53,920 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $29.48 | $61,320 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $31.36 | $65,230 | 4% above U.S. median |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Cedar Rapids
- Overall prices in Cedar Rapids run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.0, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 29% below the U.S. average (index 71.4).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Cedar Rapids Surgical Technologist pay report
Named employers near Cedar Rapids, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Cedar Rapids paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$933
- Per year: $46,656
- Per month: $3,888
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for Iowa. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Cedar Rapids
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel surgical technologist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Open Surgical Technologist roles in Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Cedar Rapids as they open.
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20+ more Surgical Technologist roles for you in Iowa
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Hospitals in Cedar Rapids
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Cedar Rapids, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| St Lukes Hospital Cedar Rapids, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Surgical Technologist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | 23 mi | $23.42/hr | 76,710 |
| Waterloo, IA | 50 mi | $25.05/hr | 67,477 |
| Dubuque, IA | 62 mi | $25.92/hr | 58,987 |
| Davenport, IA | 62 mi | $25.79/hr | 100,938 |
| Ames, IA | 100 mi | $18.94/hr | 69,026 |
| Ankeny, IA | 100 mi | $29.17/hr | 76,727 |
Surgical Technologist jobs in Iowa · Surgical Technologist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Iowa taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do surgical technologists make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
Surgical Technologists in Iowa have a median pay of $25.92 per hour, about $53,920 a year. The middle half earn between $23.42 and $29.48 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Where do surgical technologists work in Cedar Rapids?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Cedar Rapids, led by Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Cedar Rapids as a surgical technologist?
CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Cedar Rapids?
The federal per diem benchmark in Cedar Rapids is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place surgical technologists in Cedar Rapids?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Cedar Rapids and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Cedar Rapids.
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What do employers near Cedar Rapids pay surgical technologists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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20+ Surgical Technologist roles in Iowa, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Surg Tech pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 4 postings$48.62/ hr$31–$60
- CommonSpirit HealthSTOCKTON, CA · 10 postings$47.95/ hr$32–$62
- Fairview Health ServicesBurnsville, MN · 6 postings$46.05/ hr$32–$54
- NewYork-PresbyterianNew York · 6 postings$44.62/ hr$33–$51
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list
2What they are offering now
Low$24Median$37.24High$50
293 Surg Tech postings with published pay in the US, 229 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 Surg Tech roles
- Surgical Technician - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive AuthorizedPermanent$48k–$78k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.