Skip navigation

Surgical Technologists - 29-2055.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Certified Surgical Technician
  • Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)
  • Operating Room Surgical Technician (OR St)
  • Operating Room Technician (OR Tech)
  • Operating Room Technologist (OR Tech)
  • Surgical Scrub Technician
  • Surgical Scrub Technologist (Surgical Scrub Tech)
  • Surgical Technician
  • Surgical Technologist (Surgical Tech)

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.
  • Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
  • Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.
  • Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
  • Maintain files and records of surgical procedures.
  • Maintain supply of fluids, such as plasma, saline, blood, or glucose, for use during operations.
  • Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
  • Observe patients' vital signs to assess physical condition.
  • Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, or diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation.
  • Order surgical supplies.
  • Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery.
  • Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
  • Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.
  • Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.
  • Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
  • Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
  • Apply bandages, dressings, or splints.
  • Assist healthcare practitioners during surgery.
  • Clean medical equipment or facilities.
  • Maintain inventory of medical supplies or equipment.
  • Maintain sterile operative fields.
  • Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
  • Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
  • Order medical supplies or equipment.
  • Position patients for treatment or examination.
  • Prepare biological specimens for laboratory analysis.
  • Protect patients or staff members using safety equipment.
  • Record patient medical histories.
  • Sterilize medical equipment or instruments.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Aerospace Medical Service Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Cardiovascular Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Craftsman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Assistant Journeyman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Dental Surgical Technologist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Craftsman, Health Information Technology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Journeyman, Health Information Technology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Management Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Health Services Technician (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Hospital Corpsman (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Medical Administration Specialty (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Nurse Corps Officer (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Operating Room Nurse (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Operating Room Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Ophthalmic Surgical Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Opthalmic Surgical Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Perioperative Nurse (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Respiratory Care Practitioner (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Respiratory Care Practitioner Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Respiratory Care Practitioner Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Respiratory Care Practitioner Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Respiratory Care Practitioner Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Respiratory Care Practitioner Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Respiratory Care Practitioner Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Sugical Technologist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Apprentice (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Apprentice, Orthopedics (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Apprentice, Otolaryngology (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Apprentice, Urology (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Craftsman (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Craftsman, Orthopedics (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Craftsman, Otolaryngology (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Craftsman, Urology (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Helper (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Helper, Orthopedics (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Helper, Otolaryngology (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Helper, Urology (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Journeyman (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Journeyman, Orthopedics (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Journeyman, Otolaryngology (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Journeyman, Urology (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Service Superintendent (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Apprentice, Orthopedics (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Apprentice, Otolaryngology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Apprentice, Urology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Craftsman, Orthopedics (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Craftsman, Otolaryngology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Craftsman, Urology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Helper, Orthopedics (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Helper, Otolaryngology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Helper, Urology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Journeyman, Orthopedics (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Journeyman, Otolaryngology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Journeyman, Urology (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Surgical Technologist Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Surgical Technologist

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Surgical Technician