Federal Surgical Tech Salary 2026: $71,820 Mean (VA / IHS / Military Civilian)
The Federal Executive Branch is the single highest-paying industry for surgical technologists nationally, with a BLS-published mean annual wage of $71,820 (May 2024 OEWS, NAICS 999100). Federal CSTs work as civilian employees at VA medical centers, Indian Health Service facilities, military hospitals, and the NIH Clinical Center. Pay follows the OPM General Schedule plus locality pay.
OPM General Schedule pay table (illustrative)
Selected GS grades and steps relevant to surgical technologist positions. Locality pay varies by metropolitan area; Washington-Baltimore-Arlington (DCB) shown as illustration.
| Grade | Step 1 base (RUS) | Step 5 base (RUS) | Step 5 + DCB locality |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-6 | $37,696 | $42,485 | $56,597 |
| GS-7 | $42,022 | $47,353 | $63,083 |
| GS-8 | $46,540 | $52,440 | $69,857 |
| GS-9 | $51,432 | $57,961 | $77,212 |
| GS-10 | $56,656 | $63,852 | $85,038 |
| GS-11 | $62,251 | $70,158 | $93,447 |
Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule + 2025 locality pay tables, Washington-Baltimore-Arlington 33.21% locality. opm.gov
Federal employer profiles
- Veterans Health Administration (VA): 171 medical centers, largest federal surgical tech employer. Search USAJobs for series 0640 (Health Aid) or 0601 (Health Specialist) with surgical technologist title.
- Indian Health Service (IHS): Tribal hospitals and clinics. IHS Loan Repayment Program offers up to $50,000 in tax-free loan repayment per 2-year service commitment, often the strongest standalone federal benefit for new-grad CSTs with student loans.
- Military Health System (civilian): Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (Bethesda), Naval Medical Center San Diego, Brooke Army Medical Center (San Antonio), and Madigan Army Medical Center (Tacoma). Civilian-CST roles are usually GS-7 to GS-9.
- NIH Clinical Center (Bethesda): Research-focused, fewer surgical positions but high pay (full DC locality applies).
The benefits side of federal pay
FERS pension typically accrues at 1.0 percent of high-3 average salary per year of service (1.1 percent at age 62+ with 20 years service). Thrift Savings Plan matches employee contributions up to 5 percent. Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage has agency premium contributions averaging 70 percent. Combined, these benefits add an estimated 18 to 25 percent to the headline GS salary in total-compensation terms, which is typically why nominal federal pay can sit below private hospital pay yet deliver competitive total compensation.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2024 industry cross-tab, SOC 29-2055, NAICS 999100 (federal): bls.gov/oes/current/oes292055.htm
- OPM 2025 General Schedule + locality pay tables: opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages
- IHS Loan Repayment Program: ihs.gov/loanrepayment
- FERS basic benefits summary: opm.gov/retirement-center/fers-information