Surgical Technologists Salary
The median pay for a surgical technologists in Louisiana is $57,370/year ($27.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $65,731 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 31.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Louisiana?
About surgical technologists
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for surgical technologists in Louisiana runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,191/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level surgical technologists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Technologists salary by metro in Louisiana
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond | $61K | +6% | 60 |
| Baton Rouge | $60K | +5% | 470 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $59K | +3% | 170 |
| Lake Charles | $59K | +3% | 60 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $59K | +2% | 590 |
| Monroe | $57K | -1% | 90 |
| Lafayette | $54K | -6% | 220 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $53K | -8% | 80 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $52K | -10% | 230 |
| Alexandria | $51K | -11% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track surgical technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 30.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical technologists in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical technologists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,195/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $57K here vs. $65K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for surgical technologists?
Louisiana pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical technologists make in Louisiana?
The median is $57,370 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,580, and experienced surgical technologists can clear $74,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,857/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 30.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a surgical technologists salary go in Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $65,731 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.