Surgical Technologist Jobs in Tampa, FL
Surgical technologists in Tampa earn a median of about $30 an hour, scrubbing into cases at Tampa General's transplant and trauma ORs on Davis Islands, the hospitals along the USF corridor and a ring of outpatient surgery centers. Here are the current openings, then who hires and how to get started.
Current surgical technologist Openings in Tampa, FL
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Surgical Technologist Work in Tampa
Tampa's operating rooms run some of the most complex surgery in Florida. Tampa General Hospital on Davis Islands is the only hospital in West Central Florida performing all five adult solid organ transplants, and its surgical services team uses robotic systems and hybrid ORs. North of downtown, AdventHealth Tampa on Fletcher Avenue staffs certified techs for its inpatient ORs, while BayCare's St. Joseph's hospitals and HCA Florida West Tampa Hospital in Town 'N' Country add more hospital scrub work.
The other half of the market is outpatient. USPI runs a cluster of ambulatory surgery centers in Tampa, including Advanced Surgery Center of Tampa and Select Physicians Surgery Center, where orthopedic, spine and ENT cases fill weekday schedules with no nights. Recent USPI postings have offered sign-on bonuses of $5,000 to $7,500, a sign that experienced scrub techs are in demand across Hillsborough County.
Top Tampa Employers for Surgical Technologists
These Tampa hospitals and surgery centers employ surgical technologists:
- AdventHealth - hires CST-credentialed Surgical Technologist I staff at AdventHealth Tampa on Fletcher Avenue.
- Tampa General Hospital - the Davis Islands academic center hires surgical technologists and OR assistants and publishes a surgical technologist career ladder.
- BayCare - hires surgical techs and surgical technologist first assistants at St. Joseph's hospitals, including St. Joseph's North.
- HCA Florida Healthcare - hires certified surgical technologists for day shift at HCA Florida West Tampa Hospital.
- USPI - the surgery center operator hires surgical techs at Advanced Surgery Center of Tampa, Select Physicians Surgery Center and AdventHealth Surgery Center Wellswood.
Surgical Technologist Salaries in Tampa
- Entry level: about $22 to $28 per hour for new program graduates.
- Experienced: roughly $28 to $37 per hour for certified techs with a few years of OR time.
- Senior and specialty: $37 to $47 per hour for lead techs, first assistants and heart or transplant teams.
These are estimates based on federal wage data for the Tampa metro and posted ranges such as AdventHealth Tampa's $20.96 to $38.99 an hour. Pay rises with the CST credential, specialty experience in cardiovascular, spine or orthopedics, call pay and hospital night shifts. Surgery centers often pay less per hour than hospitals but offer daytime schedules and sign-on bonuses.
How to Become a Surgical Technologist in Tampa
Florida does not license surgical technologists, and no state law requires certification, but most Tampa hospitals expect the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. The usual path is an accredited program followed by the CST exam. Hillsborough College offers an Associate in Science in Surgical Technology accredited by CAAHEP, with health science programs based at the Dale Mabry Campus; the college reported an 87 percent job placement rate for its 2024-2025 graduates. Hospitals also require BLS.
What the Job Involves
Surgical technologists prepare the operating room, set up sterile instruments and supplies, and pass instruments to the surgeon during the procedure. They help position and drape patients, keep the sterile field intact, count sponges, needles and instruments with the circulating nurse, and handle specimens. After the case they break down the room and send instruments for sterilization.
Skills Employers Look For
- CST certification or eligibility to sit for it
- Strict aseptic and sterile technique
- Knowledge of instruments for general, orthopedic and specialty cases
- Ability to anticipate the surgeon's next step
- Stamina for long cases on your feet
- BLS certification and willingness to take call
Career Path and Advancement
Many Tampa techs start in general surgery, then specialize in orthopedics, spine, cardiovascular or transplant cases at hospitals like Tampa General and AdventHealth. From there the ladder runs to lead surgical tech, surgical first assistant, a role BayCare hires for at St. Joseph's North, and OR coordinator. Others move into sterile processing leadership or go back to school at Hillsborough College or USF to become registered nurses.
Related Careers in Tampa
If operating room work interests you, these Tampa healthcare roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a surgical technologist in Florida?
No. Florida has no state license for surgical technologists and no law that requires certification. Most Tampa hospitals still require or strongly prefer the CST credential from the NBSTSA, so plan on taking the exam after your program.
How much do surgical technologists make in Tampa?
Federal wage data puts the Tampa metro median near $30 an hour, or about $63,000 a year. New graduates usually start in the low to mid $20s, and lead techs or first assistants can earn $40 an hour or more.
Where can I train to be a surgical tech in Tampa?
Hillsborough College offers a CAAHEP-accredited Associate in Science in Surgical Technology through its Dale Mabry Campus health science programs. Graduates are prepared for the CST exam and for entry-level OR jobs at local hospitals and surgery centers.
Do surgery centers or hospitals pay more in Tampa?
Hospitals usually pay more per hour once you add call pay and shift differentials, especially for trauma, transplant and cardiovascular teams. Surgery centers such as USPI's Tampa locations trade that for weekday hours with no nights and have offered sign-on bonuses.
What shifts do surgical technologists work in Tampa?
Hospital techs often work 8, 10 or 12-hour shifts with weekend and on-call rotations, since trauma and transplant cases come in at any hour. Outpatient surgery center techs generally work weekday daytime schedules.
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