Surgical Technologist Jobs in Tulsa, OK
Surgical technologists in Tulsa scrub in at the big operating suites on South Utica and Yale Avenue and at suburban hospitals from Owasso to Broken Arrow, where the metro median runs near $28.60 an hour. Here are the current openings, then who hires, what it pays and how to get certified.
Current surgical technologist Openings in Tulsa, OK
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Surgical Technologist Work in Tulsa
Tulsa's operating rooms are spread across three hospital systems and a ring of suburban campuses. Saint Francis Hospital at 61st and Yale, the 1,112-bed main campus of the Tulsa-based system, hires certified techs into a clinical ladder with a 6-month orientation. In midtown, Hillcrest Medical Center and Ascension St. John Medical Center sit about a mile apart on South Utica and staff general, labor and delivery and cardiovascular operating rooms. South Tulsa and the suburbs add operating rooms at Hillcrest Hospital South near the Creek Turnpike, Bailey Medical Center in Owasso, and Ascension St. John Broken Arrow.
The Tulsa metro had about 560 surgical technologists in the May 2025 federal wage survey. Shifts usually start early, often around 6:30 a.m., and many jobs add call, weekend or PRN coverage, which is where the sign-on bonuses and extra pay in recent Tulsa postings come from.
Top Tulsa Employers for Surgical Technologists
These Tulsa hospitals hire surgical technologists for their operating rooms:
- Saint Francis Health System - the Tulsa-based system hires certified surgical technologists and runs a 10-month paid Surgical Technology Residency for new graduates.
- Hillcrest Medical Center - the 656-bed Utica Avenue hospital hires NBSTSA or NCCT certified techs for day-shift OR and labor and delivery roles.
- Hillcrest Hospital South - the 180-bed south Tulsa hospital hires weekend and PRN surgical techs and gives new hires up to six months to get certified.
- Ascension St. John - the midtown medical center staffs its main and cardiovascular operating rooms, and its Broken Arrow hospital hires OR techs too.
- Bailey Medical Center - the 73-bed Owasso hospital, which offers general surgery, orthopedics, bariatrics and maternity care, hires PRN surgical techs who take call.
Surgical Technologist Salaries in Tulsa
- Entry level: about $22 to $26 an hour for new graduates and techs still earning certification.
- Experienced: roughly $27 to $30 an hour for certified techs, around the Tulsa median.
- Senior and specialty: about $30 to $33 an hour and up for cardiovascular, PRN and lead roles.
These are estimates built from the May 2025 federal wage survey for the Tulsa metro and recent local postings. Certification, call pay, weekend and PRN shifts and specialty service lines such as cardiovascular surgery move pay the most. Hillcrest has advertised sign-on bonuses of up to $5,000 for surgical techs, and Saint Francis residents are eligible for a sign-on bonus.
How to Become a Surgical Technologist in Tulsa
Oklahoma has no state license or registration for surgical technologists. Certification is an employer requirement: Tulsa hospitals ask for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or the NCCT credential, and some give new hires up to six months to earn it. Tulsa Community College offers a five-semester, CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technology AAS at its West Campus, and its 2025 graduates posted a 100 percent CST pass rate. Tulsa Tech runs a Surgical Technology program at its Health Sciences Center on the Lemley Memorial Campus on South Memorial Drive, with an evening track that starts in January and day clinicals from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
What the Job Involves
Surgical technologists set up and maintain the sterile field, prepare instruments, supplies and equipment, and hand the surgeon what is needed before it is asked for. Daily work includes checking case carts, gowning and gloving the surgical team, counting sponges, sharps and instruments with the circulating nurse, handling specimens, and breaking down and turning over the room between cases.
Skills Employers Look For
- CST or NCCT certification, or eligibility to test
- Current BLS certification
- Strict sterile technique
- Instrument knowledge across general, orthopedic and OB cases
- Ability to anticipate the surgeon's next step
- Stamina for long cases on your feet
- Willingness to take call and cover early starts
Career Path and Advancement
Many Tulsa techs come out of the TCC or Tulsa Tech program, complete their CST, and start in a residency or general OR role at a Yale Avenue or Utica Avenue hospital. From there the path runs to specialty teams such as cardiovascular, labor and delivery or orthopedics, then to lead tech, surgical first assistant or OR materials and instrument coordination. Some techs move on to nursing school while working PRN.
Related Careers in Tulsa
If operating room work interests you, these Tulsa healthcare roles are close matches:
- Radiologic Technologist Jobs
- Registered Nurse Jobs
- Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs
- Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a surgical tech in Oklahoma?
No. Oklahoma has no state license or registration for surgical technologists. Most Tulsa hospitals still require national certification, usually the CST from the NBSTSA or the NCCT credential, either at hire or within the first six months.
How much do surgical technologists make in Tulsa?
The Tulsa median was about $28.60 an hour in the May 2025 federal wage survey. New graduates often start in the low to mid $20s, while certified techs on specialty teams, PRN or weekend schedules can earn $30 an hour or more.
Where can I train to be a surgical technologist in Tulsa?
Tulsa Community College offers a CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technology AAS at its West Campus, and Tulsa Tech runs a Surgical Technology program at its Lemley Memorial Campus on South Memorial Drive. Both prepare you for the NBSTSA certification exam.
What hours do surgical techs work in Tulsa?
Operating rooms start early, so day shifts often begin around 6:30 a.m. Many jobs add call, weekend or PRN coverage, and cardiovascular teams such as Ascension St. John's run long weekday shifts with call.
Is there a paid training program for new surgical techs in Tulsa?
Yes. Saint Francis offers a 10-month paid Surgical Technology Residency for newly certified surgical technologists, with mentoring from experienced staff and sign-on bonus eligibility.
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