Prepare operating rooms, sterilize instruments, and hand tools to surgeons during operations.
Operating rooms; sterile, fast-paced, standing for long stretches.
Full-time; on-call, nights, and weekends are common.
May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Certificate program
Training path: Certificate or associate program.
No universal license; most employers require certification.
In the operating room without medical school.
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Standard Occupational Classification 29-2055. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.