May 2023 data recently released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that more than 110,000 people were employed as surgical technologists in the United States. With over 31,700 surgical technologists employed, the twelve-state Southeast region accounted for nearly 29% of U.S. surgical technologist employment. The Southeast is the weakest region in the country for surgical technologist pay, with Virginia being the only state in the region with an annual mean wage for surgical technologists that exceeds the national average. Moreover, seven states in the Southeast ranked in the bottom ten nationally for surgical technologist annual mean wages. From May 2023 BLS data, here is a summary look at surgical technologist pay in the Southeast:
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| Surgical Technologist Pay in the Southeast |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| AL | 2,330 | $46,060 | 51st |
| AR | 1,540 | $50,080 | 48th |
| FL | 8,430 | $56,730 | 38th |
| GA | 3,910 | $59,620 | 25th |
| KY | 2,110 | $52,440 | 45th |
| LA | 1,550 | $51,830 | 46th |
| MS | 1,080 | $47,110 | 50th |
| NC | 3,550 | $54,660 | 40th |
| SC | 2,420 | $55,570 | 39th |
| TN | 2,030 | $57,130 | 37th |
| VA | 2,220 | $66,380 | 13th |
| WV | 570 | $48,720 | 49th |
| 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 3, 2024
