Surgical Technologist Jobs in Dallas, TX
Certified surgical technologists in Dallas scrub in on everything from robotic cases to heart surgery, and the local median sits near $38 an hour. Texas Health Dallas staffs separate CST teams for its main ORs, Perot surgery, CVOR and labor and delivery. Here are the current openings, then who hires and how to get certified.
Current surgical technologist Openings in Dallas, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Surgical Technologist Work in Dallas
Dallas has a deep operating room job market. The north-central hospital cluster on Walnut Hill Lane by Central Expressway runs cardiovascular and robotic suites alongside general ORs, Methodist Dallas Medical Center handles Level I trauma surgery in North Oak Cliff, and Parkland runs surgery for the county's safety-net system in the Southwestern Medical District off Stemmons. East of the city, Dallas Regional Medical Center in Mesquite hires CSTs for general, urology, eye and hand cases.
Texas law shapes hiring here. Hospitals and surgery centers must employ surgical technologists who finished an accredited program and hold national certification, so CST is the working credential, not a nice extra. Day shift is the norm for scheduled cases, with call, nights and PRN work in trauma, CVOR and labor and delivery.
Top Dallas Employers for Surgical Technologists
These Dallas-area hospitals employ certified surgical technologists:
- Texas Health Resources - Texas Health Dallas on Walnut Hill Lane hires CSTs for general surgery, Perot surgery, robotics, CVOR and labor and delivery, with a sign-on bonus for eligible hires.
- Methodist Health System - the system behind Methodist Dallas Medical Center on North Beckley Avenue recruits surgical technologists for its operating rooms.
- Parkland Health - Dallas County's public hospital on Harry Hines Boulevard employs surgical technologists in its clinical support workforce.
- Dallas Regional Medical Center - the Prime Healthcare hospital in Mesquite hires CSTs to scrub general, urology, eye, gynecology and hand procedures.
Surgical Technologist Salaries in Dallas
- Entry level: about $21 to $29 an hour for new CSTs.
- Experienced: roughly $30 to $40 an hour for techs who scrub most services.
- Senior and specialty: about $41 to $46 an hour or more for CVOR, robotics and lead roles.
These are estimates. Federal wage data for the Dallas-Fort Worth area puts the surgical technologist median at about $38.46 an hour, and Dallas College reports a $38 median. Call pay, night and weekend differentials, sign-on bonuses and specialty skills such as heart, neuro or robotic cases move pay up.
How to Become a Surgical Technologist in Dallas
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 259, a hospital or surgery center may employ a surgical technologist only if the person completed an accredited program and holds certification from a recognized national body, trained in the military or Public Health Service, or worked in the field before September 2009. New graduates get 180 days to pass the CST exam from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. Texas has no separate state license or registry for surgical technologists. Locally, Dallas College runs the Surgical Technologist AAS at the Downtown Health Sciences Center, 301 N. Market St. in the West End: about two years, $5,940 in county tuition, CAAHEP accredited, with an 82 to 93 percent CST pass rate in recent years.
What the Job Involves
Surgical technologists set up the operating room, sterilize and count instruments, prepare the sterile field, and pass instruments, sutures and supplies to the surgeon during the case. They anticipate the next step, keep the field sterile, handle specimens, and break down and restock the room for the next patient. Many also take call for emergency cases.
Skills Employers Look For
- CST certification from NBSTSA
- Graduation from an accredited surgical technology program
- Current BLS certification
- Strong sterile technique and instrument knowledge
- Experience across general, ortho, OB or specialty services
- Calm focus under pressure and steady hands
Career Path and Advancement
New Dallas CSTs usually start in general surgery, then specialize in CVOR, neuro, ortho or robotic cases at the Walnut Hill and Medical District hospitals. From there the ladder runs to lead tech, OR coordinator, sterile processing management or first assistant, which takes additional training and a CSFA credential.
Related Careers in Dallas
If operating room work interests you, these related Dallas roles are close matches:
- Registered Nurse Jobs
- Licensed Vocational Nurse Jobs
- Radiologic Technologist Jobs
- Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a surgical technologist in Texas?
Texas has no state license for surgical technologists, but state law requires hospitals and surgery centers to hire techs who completed an accredited program and hold national certification, with limited exceptions. In practice, Dallas employers ask for the CST credential.
How much do surgical technologists make in Dallas?
New CSTs generally start around $21 to $29 an hour, and experienced techs earn about $30 to $40. Specialists in CVOR or robotic surgery can earn $41 to $46 an hour or more, before call pay and differentials.
How long does it take to become a surgical tech in Dallas?
The Dallas College Surgical Technologist AAS takes about two years full time, plus any prerequisites. After graduating, you have 180 days under Texas law to pass the CST exam while working.
Do Dallas surgical techs take call?
Many do. Day shifts cover scheduled cases, but trauma, labor and delivery and heart surgery teams need call, nights or PRN coverage, and those shifts usually pay a premium.
Can I work as a surgical tech while waiting to take the CST exam?
Yes, for a limited time. Texas lets a hospital employ a graduate of an accredited program for up to 180 days after graduation, after which the tech must show proof of certification to keep working.
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