Surgical Technologist jobs in Tampa, FL
Local pay, hiring demand and training costs for becoming a surgical technologist in the Tampa, FL metro (3.3 million people). No state income tax and low program costs through Florida's technical college system. Healthcare and residential construction drive most of the entry-level hiring.
Tampa numbers
- Local entry pay
- $45k–$55k
- Local experienced pay
- $64k–$85k with call pay and specialty experience
- Local training cost
- $4,000–$16,000 for an accredited program
- Hiring demand
- Very high in the Tampa metro
- Time to qualify
- 12–24 months
- Credential needed
- CST certification (NBSTSA) after an accredited program
Pay in Tampa runs 6% below the national average, while cost of living is at the national average. Net effect: Below average — costs eat into the wage. Figures are modelled from national ranges adjusted by local wage and cost indexes — treat them as planning estimates, not job offers.
Job availability in Tampa
Demand for healthcare roles here is very high across a metro of 3.3 million. Employers and training providers worth checking first:
- AdventHealth
- Tampa General Hospital
- Hillsborough Technical Colleges
- Port Tampa Bay
What training costs here
Programs in Tampa run 20% below the national average — roughly $4,000–$16,000 for an accredited program to reach your cst certification (nbstsa) after an accredited program. Compare a local community or technical college against employer-paid apprenticeships before you pay tuition.
AI impact
Very low. Robotic surgery still requires a scrub tech at the field managing instruments and sterility.
Getting started from Tampa
Phase 1
Work as a sterile processing tech
Central sterile roles hire quickly, teach the instrument sets, and hospitals often pay for your surgical tech program afterward.
Phase 2
Complete an accredited program and sit for the CST
CAAHEP or ABHES programs run 12–24 months with clinical rotations that frequently turn into job offers.
Phase 3
Pick a high-paying service line
Cardiac, neuro and trauma teams pay more, and travel scrub contracts can double a staff salary for a season.