Jobs Similar to Surgical Technologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to surgical technologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Endoscopy Technicians, Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Veterinary Technologists and Technicians.
Surgical Technologists: $64,650 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Surgical Technologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Endoscopy Technicians | 79% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 2 | Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 76% | $74,310+15% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 75% | $47,380−27% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Radiation Therapists | 75% | $105,310+63% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Diagnostic Medical SonographersSame group | 74% | $96,590+49% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Nuclear Medicine TechnologistsSame group | 74% | $101,370+57% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Respiratory Therapists | 73% | $82,280+27% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 72% | $80,110+24% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Neurodiagnostic TechnologistsSame group | 72% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 10 | Surgical Assistants | 72% | $66,800+3% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Dental Assistants | 72% | $48,070−26% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Dental Hygienists | 72% | $98,100+52% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Nurse Anesthetists | 71% | $236,590+266% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsSame group | 71% | $95,480+48% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Anesthesiologist Assistants | 71% | $135,880Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | 71% | $38,150−41% | High school |
| 17 | Medical Equipment Preparers | 70% | $47,700−26% | High school |
| 18 | Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | 70% | $35,450−45% | High school |
| 19 | Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansSame group | 69% | $45,570−30% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Dental Laboratory Technicians | 69% | $49,610−23% | High school |
- 1Endoscopy Technicians
79% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · High school
- 2Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
76% similar · $74,310 (+15%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $47,380 (−27%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Radiation Therapists
75% similar · $105,310 (+63%) · Training or associate
- 5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
74% similar · $96,590 (+49%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 6Nuclear Medicine Technologists
74% similar · $101,370 (+57%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 7Respiratory Therapists
73% similar · $82,280 (+27%) · Training or associate
- 8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
72% similar · $80,110 (+24%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 9Neurodiagnostic Technologists
72% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Surgical Assistants
72% similar · $66,800 (+3%) · Training or associate
- 11Dental Assistants
72% similar · $48,070 (−26%) · Training or associate
- 12Dental Hygienists
72% similar · $98,100 (+52%) · Training or associate
- 13Nurse Anesthetists
71% similar · $236,590 (+266%) · Graduate degree
- 14Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
71% similar · $95,480 (+48%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 15Anesthesiologist Assistants
71% similar · $135,880 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 16Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
71% similar · $38,150 (−41%) · High school
- 17Medical Equipment Preparers
70% similar · $47,700 (−26%) · High school
- 18Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
70% similar · $35,450 (−45%) · High school
- 19Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
69% similar · $45,570 (−30%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 20Dental Laboratory Technicians
69% similar · $49,610 (−23%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than surgical technologists.
- Radiation Therapists75% similar · $105,310 (+63%)
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists74% similar · $101,370 (+57%)
- Dental Hygienists72% similar · $98,100 (+52%)
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers74% similar · $96,590 (+49%)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists71% similar · $95,480 (+48%)
- Respiratory Therapists73% similar · $82,280 (+27%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Endoscopy Technicians79% similar · High school
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers71% similar · High school
- Medical Equipment Preparers70% similar · High school
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians70% similar · High school
- Dental Laboratory Technicians69% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for surgical technologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where surgical technologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Endoscopy Technicians (84)
- Surgical Assistants (82)
- Dental Assistants (79)
- Embalmers (75)
- Medical Equipment Preparers (75)
- Phlebotomists (75)
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians (69)
- Dental Laboratory Technicians (68)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (67)
- Respiratory Therapists (66)
Questions about jobs like surgical technologists
What jobs are most similar to surgical technologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Endoscopy Technicians (79% similar), Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (76% similar), Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (75% similar), Radiation Therapists (75% similar) and Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (74% similar).
Which jobs like surgical technologists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nurse Anesthetists ($236,590, +266%; usually a graduate degree), Radiation Therapists ($105,310, +63%; usually training or an associate degree) and Nuclear Medicine Technologists ($101,370, +57%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with surgical technologists ($64,650). Without more preparation than surgical technologists usually need: Radiation Therapists, Nuclear Medicine Technologists and Dental Hygienists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.