SalaryExplorer

SOC 29-2055 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Surgical Technologists — Columbus

Columbus, GA-AL · 10 metro areas compared

$58,170 /year
$27.97per hour
120jobs in area
−10.0%vs US median

In Columbus, GA the median wage is $58,170.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $64,65010TH$40,01025TH$49,390MEDIAN$58,17075TH$60,63090TH$63,260

How pay has moved

$62,853$34,7582019202020212022202320242025$58,170
$39,440 in 2019 to $58,170 in 2025, +47.5% before inflation. BLS states that OEWS estimates are not designed for comparison across years: the occupational classification, the sampling frame and the survey method have all changed inside this window. Read the direction, not the exact difference.

The next ten years

Projected to grow about as fast as average

Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
+4.5%
Openings per year
7,000
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award

Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.

Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Columbus, GA-AL.

Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.

Salary overview

In Columbus, GA the median wage is $58,170. That is 10.0% lower than the national median of $64,650. Pay ranges from under $40,010 at the tenth percentile to more than $63,260 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $49,390 to $60,630.

Employment stands at 120, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Atlanta records the highest median at $67,570. Of the 331 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 129th.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Columbus, GA-AL · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$40,010−38.1%
25th$49,390−23.6%
Median (50th)$58,170−10.0%
75th$60,630−6.2%
90th$63,260−2.2%
Mean$54,940−15.0%

Why the average earner is usually not a typical earner

Other metro areas in Georgia

Median annual wage for Surgical Technologists, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Atlanta$67,5702,400
2Savannah$63,990270
3Athens$63,950140
4Macon$60,690130
5Augusta$60,300250
6Albany$59,92090
7Dalton$57,59030
8Rome$50,90080
9Warner Robins$50,64040
10Valdosta$46,41040

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Columbus run 10.7% below the national average, so the median of $58,170 goes as far as $65,140 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.8% above the national median in real terms.

Published median

$58,170as reported by BLS

Local price level

89.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$65,140US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $58,170 a year, 10.0% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $40,010 to $63,260 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 120 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Atlanta, at $67,570.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Surgical Technologists in Columbus, GA?

The median annual wage is $58,170, or $27.97 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.

Is that higher than the national average?

The national median for this occupation is $64,650, so pay in Columbus, GA is 10.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.

What do the top earners make?

The top tenth of this occupation in Columbus, GA earns more than $63,260 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $40,010 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.

Which area nearby pays the most?

The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Atlanta, at $67,570 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 120 jobs in this occupation in Columbus, GA. Self-employed workers are not included.

Source and methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.

Surgical Technologists Salary in Columbus, GA (2025): $58,170 Median | Salary Explorer