Surgical Technologists Salary
The median pay for a surgical technologists in Eau Claire, WI is $74,900/year ($36.01/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.8), which stretches that salary to about $80,711 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,181/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $75K get you in Eau Claire?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Eau Claire’s Regional Price Parity (92.8). 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 Eau Claire
Eau Claire sits well above the national pay line for surgical technologists, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,181/month, 24.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.8 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Eau Claire offers a genuinely strong financial position for surgical technologistss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for surgical technologists in metros near Eau Claire, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $75K | $77K |
| Madison | $76K | $78K |
| Green Bay | $73K | $79K |
| Appleton | $67K | $73K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Eau Claire, WI
Entry-level surgical technologists (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $30K 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track surgical technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Eau Claire numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Eau Claire?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 24.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,181/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical technologists in Eau Claire?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical technologists typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,725/month. At HUD’s $1,181/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Eau Claire?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $75K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Eau Claire compare to the national average for surgical technologists?
Eau Claire pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.8), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical technologists make in Eau Claire, WI?
The median is $74,900 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,080, and experienced surgical technologists can clear $91,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Eau Claire?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,846/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,181/month, which eats 24.4% 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 Eau Claire?
Eau Claire has a Regional Price Parity of 92.8 (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 $80,711 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.