Surgical Technologist Salary in Houston, TX
Surgical Technologists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $71,050 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,814 take-home, or $4,901 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median surgical technologist salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,801
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,405
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,030
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$58,814
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Surgical Technologist pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,950 | $22.57 | $39,904 | $3,325 |
| 25th percentile | $57,250 | $27.52 | $48,180 | $4,015 |
| Median (50th) | $71,050 | $34.16 | $58,814 | $4,901 |
| 75th percentile | $82,720 | $39.77 | $67,024 | $5,585 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,670 | $45.51 | $75,430 | $6,286 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $71,050 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median surgical technologist's $58,814 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,631 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Surgical Technologist jobs are about as common in Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for surgical technologists, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #2 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $79,990 | $65,103 | $63,152 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $71,050 | $58,814 | $59,631 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $84,120 | $64,063 | $56,913 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $81,580 | $61,804 | $54,421 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $67,570 | $53,481 | $53,450 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $66,360 | $52,360 | $50,543 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 6 metros →
About the job: surgical technologists
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons’ assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Surgical Technologist salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $79,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surgical technologist make in Houston, TX?
The median surgical technologist salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $71,050 a year, or about $34.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,250 and $82,720.
What is a surgical technologist’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $71,050 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $58,814 a year ($4,901 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a surgical technologist?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $64,650. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,631 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #2 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surgical technologist afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median surgical technologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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