Surgical Technologist jobs in Harrisburg, PA
Surgical Technologists in the Harrisburg area earn a median of $29.68 per hour, about $61,730 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $26.13 and $35.66. That ranks 128th of 281 U.S. metro areas for surgical technologist pay, and 170th of 261 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Harrisburg. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Harrisburg.
- $29.68median pay per hour, Harrisburg
- $26–$36typical range per hour
- 330surgical technologists employed in the metro area
- 99cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Surgical Technologist pay in Harrisburg, PA
The metro median is in line with the Pennsylvania statewide median of $29.70 per hour. Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 330 surgical technologists employed in the Harrisburg-Carlisle metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.36).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $23.43 | $48,730 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $26.13 | $54,350 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Median | $29.68 | $61,730 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $35.66 | $74,170 | 18% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $37.13 | $77,230 | 23% above U.S. median |
How Harrisburg ranks
- 128th of 281 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 170th of 261 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 11 Pennsylvania metro areas
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 Harrisburg
- Overall prices in Harrisburg-Carlisle run 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.7, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 4% below the U.S. average (index 96.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $29.68 median hour buys what $30.09 buys at the national price level, in line with the national median.
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 Harrisburg Surgical Technologist pay report
Named employers near Harrisburg, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Harrisburg paycheck
- Per year: $53,424
- Per month: $4,452
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Harrisburg-Carlisle metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Harrisburg
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $124 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,386 |
| 13-week assignment | $18,018 |
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. 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).
Hospitals in Harrisburg
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Harrisburg, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upmc Pinnacle Hospitals Harrisburg, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute Harrisburg, PA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | 35 mi | $28.88/hr | 58,441 |
| Reading, PA | 51 mi | $31.27/hr | 96,000 |
| Frederick, MD | 65 mi | $36.87/hr | 89,537 |
| Baltimore, MD | 69 mi | $33.15/hr | 568,271 |
| Allentown, PA | 77 mi | $29.44/hr | 127,138 |
| Gaithersburg, MD | 80 mi | $36.87/hr | 70,686 |
Surgical Technologist jobs in Pennsylvania · Surgical Technologist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Pennsylvania
CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Pennsylvania requires for your role with the Pennsylvania licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Pennsylvania taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Harrisburg
Harrisburg city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do surgical technologists make in Harrisburg, PA?
Surgical Technologists in the Harrisburg-Carlisle metro area have a median pay of $29.68 per hour, about $61,730 a year. The middle half earn between $26.13 and $35.66 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Harrisburg a good place for surgical technologists once cost of living is counted?
Harrisburg-Carlisle ranks 170th of 261 metro areas for surgical technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 128th of 281 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% below the U.S. average.
Where do surgical technologists work in Harrisburg?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Harrisburg, led by Upmc Pinnacle Hospitals. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Harrisburg as a surgical technologist?
CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Pennsylvania requires for your role with the Pennsylvania 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 Harrisburg?
The federal per diem benchmark in Harrisburg is $124 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,386 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place surgical technologists in Harrisburg?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Harrisburg.
What do employers near Harrisburg 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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110+ Surgical Technologist roles in Pennsylvania, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your Surg Tech pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania list
2What they are offering now
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 Surg Tech roles
Open Surg Tech roles near Harrisburg, PA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.