Surgical Technologists Salary
The median pay for a surgical technologists in Dubuque, IA is $60,500/year ($29.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.33), which stretches that salary to about $69,277 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,077/month, or 27.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $61K get you in Dubuque?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Dubuque’s Regional Price Parity (87.33). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About surgical technologists
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What this looks like in Dubuque
Surgical technologists pay in Dubuque tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,077/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for surgical technologists in metros near Dubuque, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $62K | $68K |
| Iowa City | $59K | $64K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $61K | $68K |
| Sioux City | $60K | $69K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Dubuque, IA
Entry-level surgical technologists (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Technologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Surgical Technologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $83K | +28% | 290 |
| Oregon | $81K | +26% | 1,090 |
| California | $81K | +26% | 11,920 |
| Massachusetts | $81K | +25% | 2,220 |
| Alaska | $80K | +24% | 310 |
| Minnesota | $80K | +24% | 1,770 |
| Connecticut | $80K | +24% | 1,220 |
| New York | $80K | +23% | 6,540 |
| District of Columbia | $78K | +20% | 340 |
| Washington | $77K | +20% | 2,510 |
| New Jersey | $77K | +19% | 2,780 |
| Colorado | $76K | +17% | 2,100 |
| Nevada | $75K | +17% | 1,110 |
| New Hampshire | $75K | +16% | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $74K | +15% | 240 |
| Wisconsin | $74K | +15% | 2,180 |
| Idaho | $73K | +12% | 1,100 |
| Arizona | $72K | +12% | 2,410 |
| Maryland | $69K | +7% | 1,880 |
| Virginia | $68K | +5% | 1,910 |
| Texas | $65K | +1% | 10,160 |
| Illinois | $65K | +0% | 3,570 |
| Indiana | $64K | -1% | 2,680 |
| Georgia | $64K | -1% | 4,380 |
| Nebraska | $64K | -1% | 770 |
| Michigan | $63K | -2% | 3,840 |
| Maine | $63K | -3% | 470 |
| Utah | $63K | -3% | 1,170 |
| Pennsylvania | $63K | -3% | 4,490 |
| Florida | $62K | -3% | 9,120 |
| Ohio | $62K | -3% | 3,730 |
| Delaware | $62K | -4% | 340 |
| South Carolina | $62K | -4% | 2,680 |
| North Dakota | $62K | -5% | 370 |
| Oklahoma | $61K | -5% | 1,940 |
| Missouri | $61K | -5% | 2,100 |
| Montana | $61K | -6% | 490 |
| North Carolina | $61K | -6% | 4,400 |
| Vermont | $61K | -6% | 140 |
| Kansas | $61K | -6% | 1,200 |
| Iowa | $61K | -6% | 950 |
| Tennessee | $61K | -6% | 3,310 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -6% | 1,440 |
| South Dakota | $60K | -7% | 600 |
| Wyoming | $59K | -9% | 210 |
| Arkansas | $57K | -11% | 1,640 |
| Louisiana | $57K | -11% | 2,230 |
| New Mexico | $52K | -20% | 540 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -23% | 1,110 |
| Alabama | $49K | -24% | 2,480 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -24% | 580 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track surgical technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Dubuque numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Dubuque?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 27.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical technologists in Dubuque?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical technologists typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,921/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is surgical technologist a high-paying job in Dubuque?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Dubuque compare to the national average for surgical technologists?
Dubuque pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical technologists make in Dubuque, IA?
The median is $60,500 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,680, and experienced surgical technologists can clear $75,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Dubuque?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,969/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 27.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a surgical technologists salary go in Dubuque?
Dubuque has a Regional Price Parity of 87.33 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median surgical technologists salary is worth about $69,277 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do surgical technologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.