Surgical Technologist jobs in Seattle, WA
Local pay, hiring demand and training costs for becoming a surgical technologist in the Seattle, WA metro (4.0 million people). High wages, no state income tax and strong union scales. Aerospace and tech pull pay up across nearly every category, but housing eats much of the gain.
Seattle numbers
- Local entry pay
- $57k–$69k
- Local experienced pay
- $81k–$107k with call pay and specialty experience
- Local training cost
- $5,500–$22,000 for an accredited program
- Hiring demand
- High in the Seattle metro
- Time to qualify
- 12–24 months
- Credential needed
- CST certification (NBSTSA) after an accredited program
Pay in Seattle runs 19% above the national average, while cost of living is 38% above the national average. Net effect: Well below average — high costs offset the higher wage. Figures are modelled from national ranges adjusted by local wage and cost indexes — treat them as planning estimates, not job offers.
Job availability in Seattle
Demand for healthcare roles here is high across a metro of 4.0 million. Employers and training providers worth checking first:
- Boeing
- UW Medicine
- Seattle Colleges
- Amazon
What training costs here
Programs in Seattle run 10% above the national average — roughly $5,500–$22,000 for an accredited program to reach your cst certification (nbstsa) after an accredited program. Compare a local community or technical college against employer-paid apprenticeships before you pay tuition.
AI impact
Very low. Robotic surgery still requires a scrub tech at the field managing instruments and sterility.
Getting started from Seattle
Phase 1
Work as a sterile processing tech
Central sterile roles hire quickly, teach the instrument sets, and hospitals often pay for your surgical tech program afterward.
Phase 2
Complete an accredited program and sit for the CST
CAAHEP or ABHES programs run 12–24 months with clinical rotations that frequently turn into job offers.
Phase 3
Pick a high-paying service line
Cardiac, neuro and trauma teams pay more, and travel scrub contracts can double a staff salary for a season.