The latest occupational employment data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that more than 110,000 people were employed as surgical technologists in the United States as of May 2023. With over 16,000 surgical technologists employed, the Great Lakes region accounted for 15% of U.S. surgical technologist employment. Per BLS data, the region was a modestly weak one for surgical technologist pay, as only one state, Wisconsin, had an annual mean wage level for surgical technologists that topped the national average. Moreover, nearly 26% of the surgical technologists in the region lived in Ohio, where the annual mean wage level was nearly 9% below the national average. From May 2023 BLS data, here is a summary look at surgical technologist pay in the Great Lakes region:
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| Surgical Technologist Pay in the Great Lakes Region |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| IL | 3,290 | $59,860 | 24th |
| IN | 2,610 | $58,760 | 31st |
| MI | 3,790 | $57,920 | 33rd |
| OH | 4,320 | $57,140 | 36th |
| WI | 2,660 | $65,620 | 15th |
| U.S. | 110,320 | $62,250 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on December 9, 2024
