Career comparison
Registered Nurse vs. Surgical Technologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Registered nurses earn more at the median ($97,550 vs. $64,650), while surgical technologists usually get to work faster (12–24 months of training). Registered nurses assess patients, give treatments, coordinate care and educate families. 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
| Registered Nurse | Surgical Technologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $97,550 ($46.90/hr) | $64,650 ($31.08/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $68,940 – $137,470 | $45,940 – $96,940 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.6% (faster than average) | +5.0% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 180,800 | 7,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 2–4 years | 12–24 months |
| Key credential | NCLEX-RN license | CST (NBSTSA) |
| Work setting | About half of RNs work in hospitals; others work in physician offices, home health, nursing homes, outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers, schools, government and the military. | Most surgical technologists work in hospital operating rooms; others work in outpatient surgery centers and physicians’ offices that perform surgery. |
What each job does
Registered Nurse
- Assess patients’ physical and emotional condition and record observations
- Administer medications, IV fluids and treatments as ordered
- Monitor patients, interpret vital signs and lab values and recognize deterioration
- Develop and update nursing care plans
- Coordinate care with physicians, therapists, case managers and families
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 helping others, hands-on work, indoor work, and a fast pace. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose registered nurse if…
- I want a career where I make a real difference in people’s health
- I can stay calm and think clearly in emergencies
- I’m willing to complete two to four years of rigorous study
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 Registered Nurse fit quiz and the Surgical Technologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, registered nurse or surgical technologist?
Registered Nurses earn more at the median: $97,550 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 registered nurses (2–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects registered nurses to grow +5.6% from 2025–35, compared with +5.0% for surgical technologists.