WI · Waukesha · Updated October 15, 2026

Surgical Technologist jobs in Waukesha, WI

Surgical Technologists in the Waukesha area earn a median of $32.21 per hour, about $66,990 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $29.51 and $36.87. That ranks 58th of 281 U.S. metro areas for surgical technologist pay, and 66th of 261 once local prices are factored in. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Waukesha and its metro area. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Waukesha.

Open Surgical Technologist roles near Waukesha

Roles in other cities of the Milwaukee-Waukesha area.

PermanentPosted today

Surgical Technician

Veterans Health Administration · Milwaukee, WI

$65k–$84k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888965700
Top 25% payNew this week
View role

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Named employers near Waukesha, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring surgical technologists near Waukesha

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Veterans Health Administration1$35.73
Advocate Health1$33.20

Surgical Technologist pay in Waukesha, WI

The metro median is 2% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $31.67 per hour. Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 850 surgical technologists employed in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.40).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$28.41$59,0906% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$29.51$61,3802% below U.S. median
Median$32.21$66,9907% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$36.87$76,69022% above U.S. median
Top 10%$40.24$83,70033% above U.S. median

How Waukesha ranks

  • 58th of 281 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 66th of 261 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th of 10 Wisconsin 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 Waukesha

  • Overall prices in Milwaukee-Waukesha run 3% below the U.S. average (index 96.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $32.21 median hour buys what $33.23 buys at the national price level, 10% 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 Waukesha paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,160
  • Per year: $57,978
  • Per month: $4,832

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

Travel assignment per diem in Waukesha

ItemFederal 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).

Hospitals in Waukesha

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Waukesha Memorial Hospital
Waukesha, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Waukesha County Mental Health Ctr
Waukesha, WI
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot 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
West Allis, WI11 mi$32.21/hr59,784
Milwaukee, WI15 mi$32.21/hr563,531
Racine, WI29 mi$31.67/hr78,057
Kenosha, WI35 mi$27.85/hr99,578
Janesville, WI45 mi$31.93/hr66,428
Waukegan, IL48 mi$31.53/hr88,570

Surgical Technologist jobs in Wisconsin · Surgical Technologist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Wisconsin

CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Wisconsin taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Wisconsin state guide

Other healthcare roles in Waukesha

Waukesha city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do surgical technologists make in Waukesha, WI?

Surgical Technologists in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area have a median pay of $32.21 per hour, about $66,990 a year. The middle half earn between $29.51 and $36.87 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Milwaukee-Waukesha ranks 66th of 261 metro areas for surgical technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 58th of 281 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring surgical technologists in Waukesha?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Waukesha.

Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Waukesha as a surgical technologist?

CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin 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 Waukesha?

The federal per diem benchmark in Waukesha 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 Waukesha?

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

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

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

Your Surg Tech pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Wisconsin list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Hospital Sisters Health SystemGreen Bay, WI · 2 postings$32.70/ hr$26–$40
  • MercyWisconsin · 5 postings$29.10/ hr$23–$49
  • Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 4 postings$48.62/ hr$31–$60
  • CommonSpirit HealthSTOCKTON, CA · 10 postings$47.95/ hr$32–$62

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Wisconsin list

2What they are offering now

Low$23Median$32.55High$41

10 Surg Tech postings with published pay in Wisconsin, 10 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 10 Surg Tech roles

  1. Surgical Technologist - Operating RoomPermanent
    $29.69–$44.55/ hour
    Mayo Clinic · Eau Claire, WI · posted today
  2. Surgical TechnicianPermanent
    $65k–$84k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Milwaukee, WI · posted today

+ 8 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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