What to Pay a Surgical Technologist in Cleveland, OH (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings

Market Median

$58,000

base, annual

Competitive Range

$50K–$67K

25th–75th percentile

YoY Movement

+3.8%

trailing 12 months

Days to Fill

~26

Cleveland metro average

To hire a Surgical Technologist in Cleveland at market, plan on a base salary range of $50,000 to $67,000, with $58,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 26 days, expect to lead at $67K–$77K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. Ohio does not currently require pay range disclosure in job postings.

How to set your Surg Tech pay range in Cleveland

Three pay positions, modeled against current Cleveland market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market

Pay Below Median

$44K–$50K

Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Cleveland average.

Match Market — recommended

Pay at Median

$54.8K–$61.6K

Default for most Cleveland employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~26 days. A range width of ~30% (min $50,000 to max $67,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a Surg Tech's typical 8–12 year tenure.

Lead Market

Pay Above Median

$63.4K–$77K

Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

Surg Tech salary percentile distribution in Cleveland, OH

Where the Cleveland market actually sits for Surg Tech base pay.

10th $44K

25th $50K

Median $58K

75th $67K

90th $77K

Most Cleveland employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($58,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $50,000 and a max of $67,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

Ohio pay transparency compliance for Surg Tech job postings

What you must post when hiring a Surg Tech in Ohio.

Not required statewide. Ohio has no statewide pay transparency law. Posting a range is optional — but roughly half of healthcare employers in the market now disclose ranges voluntarily, and candidates increasingly skip postings without one.

For a Surg Tech role in Cleveland, a compliant good-faith range looks like $50,000 to $67,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $50,000–$67,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.

Top Surg Tech employers in Cleveland — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring Surg Techs in the Cleveland metro and what they're posting.

Employer	Type	Disclosed Range	Sign-on Bonus
Cleveland Clinic	Academic medical center	$55K–$68K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
University Hospitals	Health system	$55K–$68K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
MetroHealth	Public health system	$55K–$68K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
Summa Health	Health system	$55K–$68K	Very common ($8K–$15K)
St. Vincent Charity Medical Center	Hospital	$52K–$66K	Very common ($8K–$15K)

Surg Tech talent supply and hiring difficulty in Cleveland

How hard is it to fill a Surg Tech role in Cleveland.

~26

Avg Days to Fill

~812

Active Postings

~3,480

Cleveland Surg Tech Workforce

Tight

Supply : Demand

Cleveland surgical technologist market centered on hospital OR, ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty surgery hospitals. Cardiothoracic and orthopedic sub-specialties command premiums.

Skill premiums Surg Tech candidates command in Cleveland, OH

Skill / Credential	Pay Premium	Demand Signal
CST (Certified Surgical Technologist)	Standard baseline	Required
Cardiothoracic surgical tech	+8–12%	Very high
Orthopedic / joint replacement	+6–10%	High
Robotic surgery (da Vinci) certified	+7–11%	High and growing

Surg Tech total compensation in Cleveland — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for Surg Techs in Cleveland. "Prevalence" reflects share of Cleveland disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component	Typical Value	Prevalence in Cleveland Postings
Base salary	$58,000 (median)	100%
Call pay (standby + callback)	$4–$8/hr standby + 1.5× hourly	~86%
Sign-on bonus	$3K–$8K	~64%
CST certification pay	+5–8% on base	~54%
Overtime opportunity	$6K–$12K annualized	~88%
Estimated total comp benchmark	~$71K–$84K	—

Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.

Surg Tech pay by setting in Cleveland — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the Surg Tech range splits by employer type in the Cleveland metro.

Setting	Median	Competitive Range	Hiring Difficulty
General hospital OR	$56,000	$50K–$64K	High
Cardiothoracic surgery	$63,000	$56K–$71K	Very high
Orthopedic / joint replacement	$60,000	$53K–$68K	High
Ambulatory surgery center	$55,000	$49K–$61K	Moderate
Specialty surgery hospital	$59,000	$52K–$66K	High

FAQ: hiring a Surgical Technologist in Cleveland, OH

How much should I pay a Surgical Technologist in Cleveland, OH?

Market median is $58,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $58,000 — typically $50,000 to $67,000. To lead the market, plan on $67K–$77K base plus a sign-on bonus.

What pay range must I post for a Surg Tech job in Ohio?

No statewide law requires a posted range in Ohio. Disclosing one voluntarily — a good-faith range such as $50,000–$67,000 — is increasingly the market norm and improves application rates.

Is offering $52,000 competitive for a Surg Tech in Cleveland?

$52,000 falls below the Cleveland market median of $58,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.

What sign-on bonuses are typical for Surg Techs in Cleveland?

Roughly 64% of Cleveland surgical tech postings include a sign-on bonus ($3K–$8K). Cardiothoracic and robotic-surgery-certified techs command the top premiums.

How long does it take to fill a Surg Tech role in Cleveland?

Average fill time is approximately 26 days in the Cleveland metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($67K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($50K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.

Which employers are we competing against for Surg Tech talent in Cleveland?

By Cleveland-metro posting volume: Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth, Summa Health, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center lead the pack.

How wide should my pay range be for a Surg Tech in Cleveland?

A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for Surg Tech in Cleveland — for example, $50,000 to $67,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months.

Does Ohio require Surg Tech pay range disclosure for internal postings?

No. Ohio has no pay transparency law covering internal or external postings. Note that remote roles open to candidates in states like Colorado or California may still trigger those states' disclosure requirements.

Related Surg Tech pay benchmarks — Ohio metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros

Surg Tech pay benchmark — Columbus, OH → Surg Tech pay benchmark — Cincinnati, OH → Surg Tech pay benchmark — Pittsburgh, PA → All Surg Tech pay benchmarks →

Related roles in Cleveland

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.