Surgical Technologist Jobs in Boston, MA
Boston's teaching hospitals post certified surgical technologist pay from about $28 to $57 an hour, and Massachusetts law requires most of them to hire certified techs. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires and how to get certified in the Boston area.
Current surgical technologist Openings in Boston, MA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Surgical Technologist Work in Boston
Most of Boston's operating rooms sit within walking distance of each other in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area. Beth Israel Deaconess runs its East Campus operating rooms on Brookline Avenue, Brigham and Women's operates off Francis Street, and Boston Children's runs a main OR and a dedicated cardiovascular OR on Longwood Avenue. Across town, Boston Medical Center staffs inpatient surgery, outpatient surgery and labor and delivery ORs in the South End, plus operating rooms at BMC Brighton.
Academic medical centers mean a heavy mix of complex cases, from pediatric cardiac surgery at Children's to high-acuity inpatient surgery at BMC and BIDMC. That brings on-call coverage, evening shifts and 10- or 12-hour days, and several Boston hospitals posted sign-on bonuses for surgical techs in 2026, including $10,000 at Boston Children's for techs with a year of OR experience.
Top Boston Employers for Surgical Technologists
These Boston hospitals hire surgical technologists for their operating rooms:
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - hires certified surgical techs for the East Campus OR at 330 Brookline Avenue, with 8, 10 and 12-hour shifts and call.
- Boston Children's Hospital - hires surgical technologists for its main OR and cardiovascular OR in Longwood, plus Waltham and Needham surgery sites.
- Boston Medical Center - hires certified surgical technicians for inpatient surgery, outpatient surgery and OB labor and delivery, and surgical techs at BMC Brighton.
- Brigham and Women's Hospital - the Mass General Brigham hospital hires surgical technologists for its operating rooms at 75 Francis Street.
Surgical Technologist Salaries in Boston
- Entry level: about $28 to $38 per hour for new graduates and newly certified techs.
- Experienced: roughly $38 to $48 per hour with a few years in a hospital OR.
- Senior and specialty: about $48 to $57 per hour for senior techs in specialty rooms.
These are estimates built from ranges Boston hospitals posted in 2026, such as BIDMC at $38.33 to $56.95 and Boston Children's at $28.21 to $45.15. Specialty service lines, evening and night differentials, call pay, overtime and sign-on bonuses all move total pay above base.
How to Become a Surgical Technologist in Boston
Massachusetts does not issue a state license for surgical technologists, but state law (Massachusetts General Laws chapter 111, section 235) bars hospitals and other surgical facilities from employing anyone to do surgical technology work unless they hold a national certified surgical technologist credential, are a graduate of an accredited program who certifies within 12 months of graduating, completed military or Public Health Service training, or worked as a surgical tech on or before July 1, 2013. In practice, that means completing an accredited program and passing the NBSTSA exam for the CST. Near Boston, Quincy College offers a one-year, CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technology associate degree at 1250 Hancock Street, a short ride from Quincy Center on the Red Line, with at least 500 clinical hours and 120 scrubbed cases. MassBay Community College also runs a CAAHEP-accredited, five-semester Surgical Technology associate degree with day and evening options.
What the Job Involves
Surgical technologists set up the operating room before a case, sterilize and arrange instruments, and keep the sterile field intact. During surgery they pass instruments and supplies to the surgeon, anticipate the next step, count sponges and sharps with the circulating nurse, handle specimens, and break down and restock the room for the next patient.
Skills Employers Look For
- CST credential from the NBSTSA
- BLS certification
- Strong sterile technique
- Instrument knowledge across surgical specialties
- Steady focus during long cases
- Teamwork with surgeons, nurses and anesthesia
- Willingness to take call, evenings and weekends
Career Path and Advancement
Many Boston techs start in general surgery and then specialize in cardiac, neuro, orthopedic or pediatric rooms at the LMA hospitals, which brings higher pay and senior titles. From there the path runs to lead or charge tech, OR educator, sterile processing leadership or surgical first assistant, and some techs use hospital tuition benefits to go on to nursing school.
Related Careers in Boston
If operating room work interests you, these Boston healthcare roles are close matches:
- Radiologic Technologist Jobs
- Registered Nurse Jobs
- Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs
- Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a surgical tech in Massachusetts?
There is no state license, but there is a certification rule. Under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 111, section 235, surgical facilities generally may only employ techs who hold a national certified surgical technologist credential, with limited exceptions for recent graduates, military-trained techs and those employed on or before July 1, 2013.
Can I work as a surgical tech in Boston right after graduating?
Yes, if you finished an accredited program. Massachusetts lets a recent graduate work while waiting to certify, but you must earn the credential within 12 months of graduation. Boston Children's and Brigham and Women's both reflect this rule in their postings.
How much do surgical techs make in Boston?
Posted Boston hospital ranges in 2026 run from about $28 an hour at entry to about $57 an hour at the top of BIDMC's scale. Differentials, call pay and overtime add to that.
How long does it take to become a surgical technologist?
Quincy College's associate degree takes one year of full-time study, and MassBay's program runs five semesters. After you graduate, you sit for the NBSTSA certification exam.
Do Boston surgical techs have to take call?
Often. BIDMC's East Campus OR posting lists on-call coverage for off-shifts, weekends and holidays, and BMC posts surgical tech roles covering days, evenings, nights and weekends.
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