Independent salary research. Not affiliated with BLS, NBSTSA, AST, or any employer. Figures based on BLS OES May 2024 (SOC 29-2055).
+5 to 15% over staff CST mean | BLS OEWS May 2024 base

Pediatric Surgical Tech Salary 2026: $65K to $78K

Pediatric surgical technologists scrub for neonatal and pediatric general surgery, congenital cardiac repair, craniofacial reconstruction, pediatric orthopedic, and ENT cases at dedicated children's hospitals. Pay typically runs 5 to 15 percent above the staff CST mean of $63,060 (BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 29-2055). Senior pediatric cardiac roles at the top-ranked children's hospitals approach $85,000.

$65,000 - $72,000
Children's hospital scrub
Staff peds CST
$72,000 - $78,000
5+ yr + complex case mix
Senior peds CST
$80,000 - $95,000
Cardiac / craniofacial first assist
Peds CSFA

What pediatric surg tech work involves

Pediatric scrub techs handle neonatal abdominal repairs (tracheoesophageal fistula, gastroschisis, omphalocele), pediatric orthopedic (spinal fusion for scoliosis, club foot, congenital hip), craniofacial reconstruction (cleft palate, craniosynostosis), pediatric ENT (cochlear implant, T&A in volume), and the highest-acuity subspecialty: congenital cardiac repair (ASD, VSD, tetralogy of Fallot, single-ventricle palliation).

Smaller instrumentation, finer suture (5-0, 6-0, 7-0 Prolene routine), and tighter sterile margins differentiate pediatric work from adult OR. Most large children's hospitals run a 4-6 week internal orientation for new transfers; new-grad pediatric CST programs are less common and typically reserved for top-ranked centers.

Top employer profiles

  • Boston Children's Hospital (Harvard) - typically among the top pediatric employers nationally; mature CSFA program in cardiac surgery.
  • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) - Penn-affiliated; strong fetal surgery and transplant volume.
  • Texas Children's Hospital (Houston) - largest pediatric hospital in the US by bed count; high-volume cardiac.
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center - high US News rankings across pediatric specialties.
  • Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) - USC-affiliated; California pay band lifts base meaningfully.
  • Seattle Children's - University of Washington-affiliated; competitive Pacific Northwest pay.

The pediatric vs adult OR pay comparison

A staff CST who transfers from a community adult OR to a children's hospital in the same metro typically sees a $4,000 to $8,000 base pay bump within 12 months, plus access to higher specialty premiums (cardiac, craniofacial, transplant). The trade-off: pediatric ORs run a different on-call rotation (often longer cases, fewer turnovers, more emergent neonatal calls). Call-pay structures vary by employer.

Sources

CardiovascularNeurosurgeryAll SpecialtiesSalary Calculator

Updated 2026-04-27