PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Endovascular Surgical Technician
CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN
$27.97–$41.60/ hour
Surgical Technologist jobs in Knoxville, TN
Pay for surgical technologists in the Knoxville area centers on $24.60 per hour, or about $51,180 a year. The lower quarter earns under $23.40 and the upper quarter over $27.27. That ranks 249th of 281 U.S. metro areas for surgical technologist pay, and 241st of 261 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville. The free report below lists employers near Knoxville and what they pay.
- $24.60median pay per hour, Knoxville
- $23–$27typical range per hour
- 380surgical technologists employed in the metro area
- 93cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Surgical Technologist pay in Knoxville, TN
The metro median is 9% below the Tennessee statewide median of $27.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 380 surgical technologists employed in the Knoxville metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.24).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $19.70 | $40,980 | 35% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $23.40 | $48,670 | 23% below U.S. median |
| Median | $24.60 | $51,180 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $27.27 | $56,720 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $29.42 | $61,190 | 3% below U.S. median |
How Knoxville ranks
- 249th of 281 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 241st of 261 after adjusting for local prices
- 7th of 7 Tennessee 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 Knoxville
- Overall prices in Knoxville run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 17% below the U.S. average (index 82.8).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $24.60 median hour buys what $26.57 buys at the national price level, 12% 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.
Get the Knoxville Surgical Technologist pay report
Named employers near Knoxville, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Knoxville paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$886
- Per year: $44,280
- Per month: $3,690
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Knoxville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Knoxville
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $119 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,351 |
| 13-week assignment | $17,563 |
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).
Open Surgical Technologist roles in Tennessee
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Knoxville as they open.
PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Certified Surgical Technician
CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN
$23.11–$34.38/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
70+ more Surgical Technologist roles for you in Tennessee
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Hospitals in Knoxville
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville, 1 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Health System, Inc Knoxville, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Knoxville, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Parkwest Medical Center Knoxville, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| East Tennessee Childrens Hospital Knoxville, TN | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| East Tennessee Behavioral Health Knoxville, TN | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Knoxville Center For Behavioral Medicine Knoxville, TN | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, TN | 75 mi | $27.10/hr | 50,232 |
| Asheville, NC | 83 mi | $30.19/hr | 94,992 |
| Kingsport, TN | 87 mi | $26.04/hr | 57,109 |
| Johnson City, TN | 91 mi | $25.60/hr | 73,635 |
| Chattanooga, TN | 96 mi | $27.00/hr | 191,496 |
| Greenville, SC | 119 mi | $29.22/hr | 74,371 |
Surgical Technologist jobs in Tennessee · Surgical Technologist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Tennessee
CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Tennessee does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.
Other healthcare roles in Knoxville
Knoxville city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do surgical technologists make in Knoxville, TN?
Surgical Technologists in the Knoxville metro area have a median pay of $24.60 per hour, about $51,180 a year. The middle half earn between $23.40 and $27.27 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Knoxville a good place for surgical technologists once cost of living is counted?
Knoxville ranks 241st of 261 metro areas for surgical technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 249th of 281 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Where do surgical technologists work in Knoxville?
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville, led by University Health System, Inc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Knoxville as a surgical technologist?
CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee 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 Knoxville?
The federal per diem benchmark in Knoxville is $119 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,351 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place surgical technologists in Knoxville?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Knoxville and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Knoxville.
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What do employers near Knoxville 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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70+ Surgical Technologist roles in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- CommonSpirit HealthCHATTANOOGA, TN · 2 postings$31.77/ hr$23–$42
- 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
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Tennessee 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: 2 Surg Tech roles
- Endovascular Surgical TechnicianPermanent$27.97–$41.60/ hour
- Certified Surgical TechnicianPermanent$23.11–$34.38/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.