PA · Lancaster · Updated October 15, 2026

Surgical Technologist jobs in Lancaster, PA

Surgical Technologists in the Lancaster area earn a median of $28.88 per hour, about $60,070 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $25.10 and $34.29. That ranks 165th of 281 U.S. metro areas for surgical technologist pay, and 188th of 261 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Lancaster. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Lancaster.

Surgical Technologist pay in Lancaster, PA

The metro median is 3% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $29.70 per hour. Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 190 surgical technologists employed in the Lancaster metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.01).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$22.79$47,40025% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$25.10$52,21017% below U.S. median
Median$28.88$60,0704% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$34.29$71,32014% above U.S. median
Top 10%$34.69$72,16015% above U.S. median

How Lancaster ranks

  • 165th of 281 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 188th of 261 after adjusting for local prices
  • 8th 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 Lancaster

  • Overall prices in Lancaster run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 6% below the U.S. average (index 93.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $28.88 median hour buys what $29.39 buys at the national price level, 3% below 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.

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Estimate your Lancaster paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,040
  • Per year: $51,984
  • Per month: $4,332

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Lancaster metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Lancaster

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$123
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,379
13-week assignment$17,927

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 Lancaster

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Lancaster, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Lancaster General Hospital
Lancaster, PA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center
Lancaster, PA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital
Lancaster, PA
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Surgical Technologist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Reading, PA29 mi$31.27/hr96,000
Harrisburg, PA35 mi$29.68/hr50,649
Wilmington, DE46 mi$31.23/hr73,176
Baltimore, MD54 mi$33.15/hr568,271
Allentown, PA58 mi$29.44/hr127,138
Philadelphia, PA62 mi$31.23/hr1,573,916

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.

Pennsylvania state guide

Other healthcare roles in Lancaster

Lancaster city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do surgical technologists make in Lancaster, PA?

Surgical Technologists in the Lancaster metro area have a median pay of $28.88 per hour, about $60,070 a year. The middle half earn between $25.10 and $34.29 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Lancaster a good place for surgical technologists once cost of living is counted?

Lancaster ranks 188th of 261 metro areas for surgical technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 165th of 281 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.

Where do surgical technologists work in Lancaster?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Lancaster, led by Lancaster General Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Lancaster 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 Lancaster?

The federal per diem benchmark in Lancaster is $123 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,379 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place surgical technologists in Lancaster?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Lancaster and across Pennsylvania. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Lancaster.

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Pay report · Surg Tech near Lancaster, PA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

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 Surg Tech roles

Open Surg Tech roles near Lancaster, PA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.

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