How to become a Surgical Tech in Minnesota
A career as a surgical technician offers great income potential and excellent job prospects with growth of over 11% projected between 2016 and 2024.
In order to become a surgical technician in Minnesota, you will need to complete an accredited surgical tech program.
We have information on all the top accredited surgical tech schools, certification/ licensing requirements, and salaries and employment data for aspiring surgical technicians in Minnesota.
Accredited Surgical Tech Programs in Minnesota
Before you enrol in any surgical tech school it is strongly recommended that you confirm that it is fully accredited.
There are currently 9 accredited surgical technician programs in Minnesota.
| College | Metro Area | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Anoka Technical College | Anoka | anokatech.edu |
| Lake Superior College | Duluth | lsc.edu |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Luverne | mnwest.edu |
| Northland Community and Technical College | East Grand Forks | northlandcollege.edu |
| Rasmussen College | Brooklyn Park | rasmussen.edu |
| Rasmussen College | Moorhead | rasmussen.edu |
| Rasmussen College | St. Cloud | rasmussen.edu |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | rctc.edu |
| St. Cloud Technical and Community College | St Cloud | sctcc.edu |
Surgical tech programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) as well as the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
A high school diploma or similar is typically a requirement for admittance into such programs. Some schools may require certain subjects such as biology or maths as a prerequisite. Additionally, you may be required to undergo some background checks and health screening as part of the admittance process.
Most surgical tech programs will typically take between 9 months and 2 years to complete depending on whether it is a certificate or degree program.
Once you have graduated from an accredited program you can then choose to sit the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) certification exams to become a Certified Surgical Technologist. Certification is not essential but it is generally preferred by employers and will help greatly with career advancement.
As of yet licensing for surgical technicians is only a requirement in a small number of states including Colorado, Illinois, Washington, Indiana, and DC.
You can also view the map below for more information on surgical technician programs in Minnesota.
Surgical Tech Salary Minnesota
| Average Salary | $55,490 |
| Hourly Wage | $26.68 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $71,420 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $42,520 |
| # Employed | 2,150 |
According to the most up-to-date Bureau of Labor Statistics data released in March 2018, the average surgical technician salary in Minnesota is $55,490 – 15% more than the national average of $48,060.
This represents an hourly wage of $26.68.
Those in the top pay brackets for the profession in Minnesota earn an average salary of $71,420 whilst those in the lower pay brackets and in entry-level positions earn an average of $42,520 per annum.
There are currently 2,150 persons working as surgical technicians in Minnesota.
Minnesota Surgical Tech Employment and Salaries by Metro Area
The table below details salary and employment levels for surgical technicians in the main cities and metro areas in Minnesota.
As can be seen from the table the highest average salaries for surgical techs in Minnesota are in the Mankato-North Mankato area whilst the highest number of surgical tech jobs are in Mankato-North Mankato.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | Top 10% | Bottom 10% | # Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato-North Mankato | $59,170 | $78,430 | $41,280 | 2,380 |
| Rochester | $47,010 | $62,380 | $32,600 | 630 |
| St. Cloud | $53,120 | $72,100 | $37,370 | 50 |
| Duluth | $43,150 | $59,200 | $32,560 | 190 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $40,060 | $54,360 | $27,900 | 40 |
Surgical Tech V’s Related Careers
The table below compares the average surgical technician salary and employment in Minnesota with salary levels for related healthcare careers in the state.
| Career | Salary | # Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Technologist | $55,490 | 2,150 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,770 | 5,630 |
| Respiratory Therapy Tech | $48,150 | 370 |
| Medical Assistant | $39,050 | 10,730 |
| Phlebotomy Technician | $37,740 | 1,920 |
| Veterinary Technician | $37,450 | 2,380 |
| EMT Paramedic | $37,070 | 2,160 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $36,700 | 220 |
| Nursing Assistant | $32,560 | 31,580 |
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