Career comparison
Orthopedic Surgeon vs. Surgical Technologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Orthopedic surgeons earn more at the median ($358,550 vs. $64,650), while surgical technologists usually get to work faster (12–24 months of training). Orthopedic surgeons repair bones, joints, ligaments and tendons with surgery and treatment. 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
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Surgical Technologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $358,550 ($172.38/hr) | $64,650 ($31.08/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $84,170 – $659,290 | $45,940 – $96,940 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.0% (about as fast as average) | +5.0% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 400 | 7,100 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 14 years after high school | 12–24 months |
| Key credential | ABOS board certification | CST (NBSTSA) |
| Work setting | Orthopedic surgeons work in hospitals, surgery centers and clinics.. | Most surgical technologists work in hospital operating rooms; others work in outpatient surgery centers and physicians’ offices that perform surgery. |
What each job does
Orthopedic Surgeon
- Diagnose musculoskeletal problems
- Repair fractures
- Replace joints
- Reconstruct ligaments and tendons
- Treat arthritis and sports injuries
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 hands-on work, high responsibility, and teamwork. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose orthopedic surgeon if…
- I love surgery
- I’m interested in sports and movement
- I have physical stamina
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 Orthopedic Surgeon fit quiz and the Surgical Technologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, orthopedic surgeon or surgical technologist?
Orthopedic Surgeons earn more at the median: $358,550 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 orthopedic surgeons (14 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects surgical technologists to grow +5.0% from 2025–35, compared with +4.0% for orthopedic surgeons.