Career comparison
Nurse Anesthetist vs. Surgical Technologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Nurse anesthetists earn more at the median ($236,590 vs. $64,650), while surgical technologists usually get to work faster (12–24 months of training). Nurse anesthetists give anesthesia and keep patients safe during surgery and procedures. Surgical technologists prepare the operating room, keep the sterile field and pass instruments to surgeons.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Nurse Anesthetist | Surgical Technologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $236,590 ($113.75/hr) | $64,650 ($31.08/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $155,250 – $339,500 | $45,940 – $96,940 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +9.7% (much faster than average) | +5.0% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 2,400 | 7,100 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 7–8+ years including RN and ICU experience | 12–24 months |
| Key credential | CRNA (NBCRNA certification) | CST (NBSTSA) |
| Work setting | CRNAs work in operating rooms, labor and delivery, surgery centers and procedure suites.. | Most surgical technologists work in hospital operating rooms; others work in outpatient surgery centers and physicians’ offices that perform surgery. |
What each job does
Nurse Anesthetist
- Evaluate patients before anesthesia
- Plan anesthesia care
- Give general, regional and local anesthesia
- Manage airways and ventilation
- Monitor patients during procedures
Surgical Technologist
- Prepare operating rooms with sterile instruments, equipment and supplies
- Perform surgical scrub and gown and glove themselves and the surgical team
- Set up and maintain the sterile field throughout the procedure
- Pass instruments, sutures and supplies to the surgeon, anticipating needs
- Perform counts of sponges, sharps and instruments with the circulator
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high responsibility, hands-on work, indoor work, and teamwork. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose nurse anesthetist if…
- I’m an ICU nurse ready for more
- I stay calm in emergencies
- I love physiology and pharmacology
Choose surgical technologist if…
- I can stand and stay focused for hours at a time
- I’m fascinated by surgery and anatomy
- I can stay calm when things get tense
Still torn? Take the Nurse Anesthetist fit quiz and the Surgical Technologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, nurse anesthetist or surgical technologist?
Nurse Anesthetists earn more at the median: $236,590 versus $64,650 for surgical technologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Surgical Technologists typically train faster (12–24 months) than nurse anesthetists (7–8+ years including RN and ICU experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects nurse anesthetists to grow +9.7% from 2025–35, compared with +5.0% for surgical technologists.