Surg Tech Salary

Clinton vs Salt Lake City: Surgical Technologist Salary (2026)

Compare surgical technologist salaries between Clinton, UT and Salt Lake City, UT. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Clinton, UT
$63,780
$30.66/hr
Salt Lake City, UT
$69,237
$33.29/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricClinton, UTSalt Lake City, UT
Median Salary$63,780$69,237
Hourly Rate$30.66$33.29
Entry Level (P10)$49,408$48,421
25th Percentile$56,024$55,830
75th Percentile$77,689$81,833
Top Earner (P90)$91,734$94,459
Total Employed4470
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Clinton ($63,780) and Salt Lake City ($69,237) surgical technologist salaries.ClintonSalt Lake CityMedian Salary$63,780$69,237Entry Level (P10)$49,408$48,421Top Earner (P90)$91,734$94,459US Median $68,141

Verdict

Salt Lake City, UT offers better overall compensation for surgical technologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Clinton.

The salary gap between Clinton and Salt Lake City is $5,457 (8.56%). Salt Lake City's median is +1.61% compared to the US national median of $68,141.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Clinton spans $42,326,Salt Lake City spans $46,038. Salt Lake City has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced surgical technologists.

Clinton
P10 (Entry)$49,408
P25$56,024
Median$63,780
P75$77,689
P90 (Top)$91,734
Salt Lake City
P10 (Entry)$48,421
P25$55,830
Median$69,237
P75$81,833
P90 (Top)$94,459

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Salt Lake City ($68,641 effective) pays 5.58% more than Clinton ($65,015 effective).

Clinton
Nominal: $63,780
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $65,015
Salt Lake City
Nominal: $69,237
CoL Index: 100.868
Adjusted: $68,641

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Clinton if…

  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose Salt Lake City if…

  • Higher median salary ($69,237/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($94,459)
  • Larger job market (470 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $68,641)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, surgical technologist salaries in Clinton grew 19.1% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 50.7% growth in Salt Lake City over the same period.

Clinton, UT

+19.1%

$50,799 (2024) → $60,512 (2025)

Salt Lake City, UT

+50.7%

$43,590 (2019) → $65,690 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays surgical technologists more: Clinton or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a higher median surgical technologist salary at $69,237/year, compared to Clinton at $63,780/year — a difference of $5,457 (8.56%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Clinton and Salt Lake City?

Clinton surgical technologists earn $30.66/hr while Salt Lake City hygienists earn $33.29/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Clinton to Salt Lake City as a surgical technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Clinton and Salt Lake City. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Clinton = $65,015, Salt Lake City = $68,641), job availability (4 vs 470 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level surgical technologists earn in Clinton vs Salt Lake City?

Entry-level (10th percentile) surgical technologists earn $49,408 in Clinton and $48,421 in Salt Lake City. The Clinton area offers higher starting salaries.
JT

Written by Jessica Thompson, BA, CST

Career Analyst

Jessica has over 10 years of experience as a surgical technologist. She specializes in orthopedic surgical procedures. Jessica works at a community hospital.

Clinically reviewed by Carlos Ramirez, AAS, CSTData verified by Fatima Ali, BS, CST

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 5.40% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jessica Thompson, BA, CST, a licensed surgical technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov