How Much Does A Surgical Tech Make In Texas? The Get-Way Job

You could be interested in going into the medical profession and wonder, “How much does a surgical tech make in Texas?” 

This is a common question since most people who aren’t in the medical service know very little about surgical techs and their roles in hospital ORs.

This article will provide all the information you need about surgical techs, including their job description, pay, working hours, and how to become one. 

Let us get into more detail about this career to see its merits and figure out if it’s an ideal choice in Texas;

How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Texas?

Surgical techs will earn primarily based on experience and specialization. Beginners will get around $20.22 an hour, those with 1-4 months of experience will get $21.58 an hour, those with 5-10 years will get $23.93. 

And as they get more experience, it can go as high as $40 an hour in Texas. Additionally, they get many benefits, including 401(k), employee stock purchase plans, insurance, paid housing loan forgiveness, paid time off, relocation assistance, and others. 

It’s a flexible job in terms of hours since most hospitals work 24 hours.

What is a Surgical Tech?

Surgical techs are a crucial part of the operations at any surgical hospital, but most people don’t even know who they are or what they do. 

Many things need to happen for a surgery to be successful, and a surgeon can’t deal with all of them; this is where surgical techs come in.

Surgical technologists or Operating room technicians work in the background with surgeons, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to make surgical operations successful. Their role is crucial because they ensure the procedures are sterile and organized.

Surgical techs work in the OR, and their roles can be divided into three stages: before the operation (preoperative), during the operation (intraoperative), and after the operation (postoperative). 

Before the operation, surgical techs help with the sterilization and preparation process. They clean the equipment in the room and ensure they are sterile so they don’t cause any infections when used on the patient.

They also help with preparing the patient for surgery and gathering all the necessary tools needed for the surgery. They will also prepare the patient for the procedure and eliminate any issues that could hinder the success of the process.

Once the surgery is underway, the surgical tech must ensure the room remains sterile. They can also help pass tools to the surgeon and assistants or retract tissues from the surgical patient. They essentially become an assistant to the surgeon.

The surgical techs help wrap up the operation procedure by accounting for all the tools used in the surgery and ensuring they are clean. They also dispose of the needles and gauze and apply dressings to the surgical sites.

They must also maintain a sterile environment until the patient enters a recovery room. Clean environments are crucial since exposing the inner parts of a patient in a dirty environment can lead to infections that could kill the patient.

There are many surgical techs in hospitals, most of which work in various areas or general surgery. Others opt to specialize in one surgical site, and this can be a great way to bump the paycheck and advance their medical career.

Depending on their passion, surgical techs can specialize in plastic surgery, cardiology, orthopedics, organ transplant, or pediatric surgery. It is a medical field so it takes a lot of focus and dedication for a surgical tech to specialize in a field.

Surgical techs work in many areas, from doctor’s offices to outpatient centers and ORs. Working under the surgical lights all day while standing and walking around to make things work can be challenging.

Surgical techs must remain alert during the surgery since they are as important of a determining factor of success as a surgeon or nurse. They typically work full-time, including weekends, holidays, and on-call work.

Reasons To Pursue A Career in Surgical Technology

You might be interested in surgical technology, but you aren’t sure if it is the right choice, so you need a few more reasons to help you make up your mind. 

You will be happy to know that there are many advantages to choosing surgical technology, and here are a few;

• You will have less school and need less money to become a surgical tech than other medical courses. Most medical professions need several hundred thousand dollars and over four years of higher education, but it only takes two years to get a degree in surgical technology.

• It has an above-average payment potential that is an excellent start to a career. You will get an annual pay of about $48.000, which is a lot considering your time in school. You won’t have many student loans and can always take another career.
• You can take your skills anywhere in the country without needing to take new examinations if you have the CST certificate. It works in all hospitals regardless of the State you got it, so you will have an easy time relocating.
• A career in surgical technology offers much room to grow, and you will gain a lot of experience in the OR that will start a fruitful career. 

You can work up to surgical assistant, branch into administrative work, or go into nursing to keep your ambitions high. 

You will never be bored since the job is fast-paced, and you will always tackle new challenges. The best part is that you get all these benefits while making a meaningful difference in many people’s lives.

How To Become a Surgical Tech

Being a surgical tech is an exciting job with good pay, and many people might want to get into this line of work; they just aren’t sure how to. 

You will be happy to know that it is an attainable goal and you can become a surgical tech with the right drive and hard work.

To become a surgical tech, you must be sharp, focused, and detail-oriented since many people depend on you. 

The work of a surgical tech is crucial in ensuring organization and sterilization, so it requires good organizational skills and an appreciation for hygiene. 

A surgical tech must ensure everything is available in a surgery, so attention to detail is crucial. Small mistakes can be life-threatening, so they must have good communication skills and the ability to work well under pressure. 

The first step to becoming a surgical tech is graduating high school or earning a GED. High school students interested in being surgical techs must take courses in anatomy, biology, and hard science to get a foundation for the advanced concepts they will learn later. 

You can get an internship at the local hospital to give you s sneak peek at the operations of a healthcare environment. 

After high school, you must join an accredited surgical tech program to learn the specific skills necessary for the role.

Surgical tech programs run for between 12 and 24 months, and you can get such courses in community or technical colleges. 

You must ensure that your chosen program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

You will not be eligible to sit for the certification exam if you graduate from an institution that is not accredited. 

After the surgical program, you should get an internship or job shadowing program to help you get hands-on experience that will help you apply the knowledge you gained in school.

Each State has specific licensing requirements for surgical neurologists, so check the state licensing website before applying to ensure you meet all the needs. 

You will have to take one of the national certification exams, and if you pass, you will have the certificate and can get a job.

There are two certification exam options for surgical techs in the US, and they have different requirements. The first option is the CST Certification, and the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) gives it if you pass the exam.

For this exam, you will need to be CAAHEP or ABHES accredited during your enrollment, and you must have either a notarized letter from the Program Director (with your name, graduation date, and type of degree you got), a transcript, or a graduation certificate copy.

The other option is the NCCT certification, which you will get from the National Center for Competency Testing. 

There are three options for eligibility for the NCCT certification: experience, military, or current student/graduate, and you have to pay an exam fee of $199.

Conclusion

This article should have been helpful if you wondered, “How much does a surgical tech make in Texas?” 

Surgical techs make a decent income and the money becomes more with experience and depending on the field in which the tech specializes and the hospital they practice at.

Being a surgical tech can be a great way to get your foot in the door with the medical profession, especially since it is one of the shortest and most affordable medical courses. 

You can complete your higher education in about two and a half years and then get a job before furthering your studies.