As of June 2026, Surgical Technologists has an AI-exposure score of 44/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Surgical Technologists
More exposed than 18% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$64,650. About 7,000 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Healthcare roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
- Maintain files and records of surgical procedures.
- Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
- Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.
- Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
- Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.
- Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.
- Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
- Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
- Maintain supply of fluids, such as plasma, saline, blood, or glucose, for use during operations.
- Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
- Observe patients' vital signs to assess physical condition.
- Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery.
- Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
- Order surgical supplies.
- Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.
- Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, or diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation.
No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (94%).
Safer adjacent roles
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