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Operating Theatre Technician Salary in the United States

How much does an Operating Theatre Technician make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Operating Theatre Technician in the United States is $47,004 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

However, an Operating Theatre Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $60,691
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $40,036 to $54,168
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,692
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Operating Theatre Technician Salaries

An Operating Theatre Technician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Operating Theatre Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Operating Theatre Technician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $46,326
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $46,520
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $49,038
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $52,303
  • Expert (over 8 years): $52,536
Levels Salary
Entry Level Operating Theatre Technician$46,326
Intermediate Level Operating Theatre Technician$46,520
Senior Level Operating Theatre Technician$49,038
Specialist Level Operating Theatre Technician$52,303
Expert Level Operating Theatre Technician$52,536
View as Graph

How Do Operating Theatre Technician Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Operating Theatre Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $52,042.
  • California: $51,845.
  • Massachusetts: $51,154.

Top Paying Cities for Operating Theatre Technicians

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $59,286
  • San Francisco: $58,637
  • Oakland: $57,401

What Skills Can Increase an Operating Theatre Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 1.43% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 1.4% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 0.94% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 1.43%
CPR 1.4%
Acute Care 0.94%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Operating Theatre Technician's salary.

  • Critical Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Teamwork: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Critical Care: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Critical Thinking $51,234
9%
Teamwork $51,234
9%
Critical Care $50,764
8%
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Operating Theatre Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Operating Theatre Technician roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 15% above the average. Conversely, Operating Theatre Technician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Operating Theatre Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Operating Theatre Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$54,054$26.015%

How Education impacts an Operating Theatre Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Operating Theatre Technicians enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Operating Theatre Technician with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $44,733 and $47,880).

Operating Theatre Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Operating Theatre Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.1%
High School 50.7%
Associates 24.7%
Bachelors 13.7%
Masters 2.1%
Doctorate 6.8%
View as Graph

Operating Theatre Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Operating Theatre Technician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$40,036
Average $47,004/year
$54,168
$3,336
Average $3,917/month
$4,514
$770
Average $904/week
$1,042
$19
Average $23/hour
$26
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $54,168 $4,514 $1,042 $26
Average $47,004 $3,917 $904 $23
25th Percentile $40,036 $3,336 $770 $19

Most common benefits for Operating Theatre Technician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Operating Theatre Technician

Here are companies hiring for Operating Theatre Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Operating Theatre Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Operating Theatre Technician?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Operating Theatre Technician roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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