What is the average salary of a scrub nurse?

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Scrub nurse’s salary can vary widely depending on location, hospital type, operating room experience, certification, shift schedule, and whether the role is staff, travel, or specialized surgical nursing. Many sources group scrub nurses under surgical nurses, operating room nurses, or perioperative nurses, so salary estimates may differ.

Some salary sources report scrub or surgical nurse averages around the high $70,000s to over $100,000 annually. One commonly cited surgical nurse salary estimate is $88,207, while ZipRecruiter lists the average scrub nurse salary at $76,123 as of May 2026. For comparison, the BLS reports the median annual wage for registered nurses as $93,600 in May 2024.

How much do surgical technologists make?

Surgical technologists, also called surgical techs or scrub techs, typically earn salaries in the low-to-mid $60,000 range nationally. The BLS reports that surgical technologists earned a median annual wage of $62,830 in May 2024.

Actual pay may vary based on:

State and city
Hospital vs outpatient surgery center
Years of experience
Certification status
Specialty area
Shift differentials
On-call requirements

Surgical technologists working in high-demand surgical centers or major metropolitan hospitals may earn more than the national median.

What is the difference between a scrub tech and a surgical tech?

A scrub tech and a surgical tech are usually the same role. “Scrub tech” is often used informally in operating rooms, while “surgical technologist” is the more formal job title.

Their responsibilities commonly include:

Preparing the operating room
Sterilizing instruments
Setting up surgical equipment
Maintaining the sterile field
Passing instruments to the surgical team
Counting sponges, needles, and instruments
Helping keep the procedure organized and safe

The BLS describes surgical technologists as professionals who prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and help surgeons and first assistants during surgery.

How does specialization affect nursing income?

Specialization can significantly increase nursing income because specialized roles often require advanced clinical skills, additional certifications, and experience in high-risk care environments.

Nursing specialties that may offer higher pay include:

Operating room nursing
Critical care nursing
Nurse anesthesia
Emergency nursing
Oncology nursing
Cardiac nursing
RN first assistant roles
Travel nursing

In surgical settings, nurses with strong perioperative experience, CNOR certification, robotic surgery exposure, trauma experience, or RNFA training may have stronger earning potential.

What are the educational requirements to become a Registered Nurse Surgical Assistant?

A Registered Nurse Surgical Assistant is commonly referred to as a Registered Nurse First Assistant, or RNFA. To become an RNFA, a nurse generally needs to be a licensed registered nurse with perioperative experience and additional surgical assisting education.

Typical requirements may include:

Current unrestricted RN license
Bachelor’s degree or higher
Perioperative nursing experience
CNOR eligibility or certification
Completion of an RNFA education program
Compliance with state board of nursing rules

AORN states that RNFA candidates should complete an education program that meets AORN’s education standards for RNFA programs and apply for RNFA certification through the appropriate credentialing pathway.

Can scrub techs advance in their careers?

Yes, scrub techs can advance in several directions. With experience, certification, and additional education, surgical technologists may move into more specialized or higher-responsibility roles.

Possible advancement paths include:

Certified surgical technologist
Surgical first assistant
Operating room lead tech
Sterile processing leadership
Surgical services educator
Operating room coordinator
Registered nurse through additional nursing education

Some surgical technologists also use their operating room experience as a foundation for nursing, physician assistant, or other healthcare careers.

How do salaries for surgical assistants compare to those of nurses?

Salaries can vary depending on the exact role. Surgical assistants and surgical technologists are not the same as registered nurses, and RNFAs are different from both.

According to BLS data, surgical assistants had a median annual wage of $60,290 in May 2024, while registered nurses had a median annual wage of $93,600. However, RNFAs may earn more than general RN roles depending on experience, certification, location, and employer.

In general:

Surgical technologist: technical operating room support role
Surgical assistant: more direct surgical assistance role
Registered nurse: licensed nursing role with broader clinical responsibility
RNFA: advanced perioperative RN role assisting during surgery

What is the demand projection for surgical team members?

Demand for surgical team members is expected to remain steady as surgical volume increases and healthcare systems continue expanding outpatient and hospital-based procedures.

The BLS projects employment of surgical assistants and technologists to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 8,700 openings per year on average. The BLS also notes that an aging population and increased demand for surgical procedures are expected to support job growth.

This makes surgical careers a stable option for people interested in hands-on clinical work in the operating room.

Can nurses transition into surgical assisting roles?

Yes, nurses can transition into surgical assisting roles, especially if they already have operating room experience. A registered nurse who wants to become an RNFA usually needs additional training, certification, and approval based on state regulations and facility policies.

This transition may be a good fit for nurses who enjoy:

Operating room workflow
Anatomy and surgical procedures
Direct collaboration with surgeons
Technical hands-on responsibilities
Advanced perioperative practice

NIFA lists RNFA eligibility requirements that include an unrestricted RN license, bachelor’s degree, current perioperative nursing work, and CNOR or CNOR eligibility.

What is the salary range for Registered Nurse Surgical Assistants?

Registered Nurse Surgical Assistant salaries can vary significantly depending on whether the role is listed as RNFA, surgical RNFA, operating room first assistant, or perioperative first assistant.

ZipRecruiter reports an average RNFA salary of $113,214 as of May 2026, with most salaries ranging from $86,500 to $127,000, and top earners around $173,500 annually. Indeed reports a higher average base salary of $143,817, based on recent job posting data.

Higher pay is often associated with: