Surgical Technologists Salary
The median pay for a surgical technologists in New Orleans-Metairie, LA is $58,660/year ($28.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $63,348 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,480/month, about 38.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $59K actually covers in New Orleans-Metairie, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New Orleans-Metairie’s Regional Price Parity (92.6). 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 New Orleans-Metairie
Surgical technologists pay in New Orleans-Metairie tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,480/month, which is 37.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for surgical technologists in metros near New Orleans-Metairie, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $60K | $66K |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $52K | $61K |
| Lafayette | $54K | $62K |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $59K | $64K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Entry-level surgical technologists (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $40K 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 annually. We'll email you when New Orleans-Metairie numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a surgical technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Orleans-Metairie?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 37.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,480/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 New Orleans-Metairie?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical technologists typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,470/month. At HUD’s $1,480/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does New Orleans-Metairie compare to the national average for surgical technologists?
New Orleans-Metairie pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do surgical technologists make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median is $58,660 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,640, and experienced surgical technologists can clear $75,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in New Orleans-Metairie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,938/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,480/month, which eats 37.6% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
New Orleans-Metairie has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $63,348 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.