Surgical Technologists Salary
The median pay for a surgical technologists in North Carolina is $60,920/year ($29.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $65,746 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 31.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in North Carolina?
About surgical technologists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Surgical technologists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level surgical technologists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Technologists salary by metro in North Carolina
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | $77K | +26% | 100 |
| Fayetteville | $66K | +8% | 100 |
| Asheville | $65K | +7% | 160 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $63K | +4% | 1,170 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $61K | +1% | 560 |
| Winston-Salem | $61K | +0% | 480 |
| Wilmington | $61K | -0% | 210 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $61K | -1% | 370 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $59K | -3% | 340 |
| Rocky Mount | $58K | -5% | 40 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $57K | -6% | 180 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $57K | -7% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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Track surgical technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 31.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical technologists typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,759/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for surgical technologists?
North Carolina pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical technologists make in North Carolina?
The median is $60,920 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,990, and experienced surgical technologists can clear $78,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,021/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 31.9% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $65,746 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.