Surgical Technologist Salary in Texas (2026) - $66,640/yr
Texas holds the second-largest surgical technologist workforce in the country at 10,160, behind California, and pays a mean of $66,640/yr, slightly below the national mean of $68,710. No state income tax significantly improves take-home pay. COL index of 95 means purchasing power is actually above the national average at $70,147 adjusted.
Texas Metro Area Pay
| Metro Area | Mean Annual | Mean Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $69,590 | $33.46 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $73,860 | $35.51 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $55,980 | $26.92 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $71,950 | $34.59 |
| El Paso | $59,580 | $28.65 |
Texas Highlights
Houston is the dominant surgical market with Memorial Hermann Health System (Level I trauma at Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center), UTHealth Houston, Houston Methodist (Level I), and Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. MD Anderson Cancer Center (ranked #1 for cancer) employs specialist surgical techs in oncology/robotics roles that pay at the upper end of the Texas range. HCA Houston Healthcare operates multiple facilities throughout the metro.
Dallas-Fort Worth: Baylor Scott & White Health is Texas' largest not-for-profit health system, covering the Metroplex with multiple Level I and Level II trauma centers. UT Southwestern Medical Center (Level I trauma at Parkland Memorial Hospital) employs a large surgical team. Children's Health (Dallas) offers pediatric specialization premiums. Zale Lipshy Pavilion and Clements University Hospital serve complex cases.
Licensure: Texas requires surgical technologist registration. Register with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) before practicing. CST credential through NBSTSA or TS-C through NCCT satisfies the exam requirement. Texas has a relatively streamlined registration process with an online application. No state income tax in Texas adds approximately 5-8% to effective take-home pay compared to states with income taxes at similar nominal pay levels.