PermanentPosted today
Surgical Technologist - Philadelphia Campus
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia · Philadelphia, PA
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New this week
Surgical Technologist jobs in Philadelphia, PA
The median surgical technologist pay in the Philadelphia area is $31.23 per hour ($64,950 a year), with the typical range running from $28.42 to $35.27. That ranks 78th of 281 U.S. metro areas for surgical technologist pay, and 156th of 261 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 21 hospitals in Philadelphia. The free report below lists employers near Philadelphia and what they pay.
- $31.23median pay per hour, Philadelphia
- $28–$35typical range per hour
- 2,190surgical technologists employed in the metro area
- 103cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Surgical Technologist roles in Philadelphia
2 more open roles from employers in Philadelphia. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted yesterday
Surgical Tech (Cert) - Surgery Center
Jefferson Health · Philadelphia, PA
Pay range with your report
New this week
Surgical Technologist pay in Philadelphia, PA
The metro median is 5% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $29.70 per hour. Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 2,190 surgical technologists employed in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.03).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $24.33 | $50,610 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $28.42 | $59,110 | 6% below U.S. median |
| Median | $31.23 | $64,950 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $35.27 | $73,360 | 17% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $37.34 | $77,670 | 24% above U.S. median |
How Philadelphia ranks
- 78th of 281 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 156th of 261 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd 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.
Get the Philadelphia Surgical Technologist pay report
Named employers near Philadelphia, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Philadelphia
- Overall prices in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington run 3% above the U.S. average (index 102.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 13% above the U.S. average (index 113.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $31.23 median hour buys what $30.45 buys at the national price level, 1% above 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.
Estimate your Philadelphia paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,124
- Per year: $56,214
- Per month: $4,684
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Philadelphia
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $184 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,932 |
| 13-week assignment | $25,116 |
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 Philadelphia
CMS lists 21 hospitals in Philadelphia, 5 of the 11 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Of Univ Of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Philadelphia Va Medical Center Philadelphia, PA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Philadelphia, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania Hospital Philadelphia, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Temple University Hospital Philadelphia, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital Philadelphia, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Philadelphia, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Jefferson Health- Northeast Philadelphia, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Nazareth Hospital Philadelphia, PA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA | Acute care | For-profit | 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden, NJ | 5 mi | $31.23/hr | 71,749 |
| Trenton, NJ | 25 mi | $32.14/hr | 91,193 |
| Wilmington, DE | 28 mi | $31.23/hr | 73,176 |
| Vineland, NJ | 38 mi | $34.31/hr | 62,070 |
| Allentown, PA | 44 mi | $29.44/hr | 127,138 |
| Bethlehem, PA | 44 mi | $29.44/hr | 79,453 |
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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do surgical technologists make in Philadelphia, PA?
Surgical Technologists in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area have a median pay of $31.23 per hour, about $64,950 a year. The middle half earn between $28.42 and $35.27 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Philadelphia a good place for surgical technologists once cost of living is counted?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington ranks 156th of 261 metro areas for surgical technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 78th of 281 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% above the U.S. average.
Where do surgical technologists work in Philadelphia?
CMS lists 21 hospitals in Philadelphia, led by Hospital Of Univ Of Pennsylvania. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia?
The federal per diem benchmark in Philadelphia is $184 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,932 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place surgical technologists in Philadelphia?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Philadelphia.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Philadelphia 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.
Get your free pay report
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.
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 Philadelphia, PA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.