Surg Tech Salary

Evansville vs Franklin: Surgical Technologist Salary (2026)

Compare surgical technologist salaries between Evansville, IN and Franklin, IN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Evansville, IN
$67,688
$32.55/hr
Franklin, IN
$65,485
$31.48/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricEvansville, INFranklin, IN
Median Salary$67,688$65,485
Hourly Rate$32.55$31.48
Entry Level (P10)$57,127$46,975
25th Percentile$65,875$55,011
75th Percentile$81,811$79,562
Top Earner (P90)$85,237$94,458
Total Employed1806
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Evansville ($67,688) and Franklin ($65,485) surgical technologist salaries.EvansvilleFranklinMedian Salary$67,688$65,485Entry Level (P10)$57,127$46,975Top Earner (P90)$85,237$94,458US Median $68,141

Verdict

Evansville, IN offers better overall compensation for surgical technologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Franklin.

The salary gap between Evansville and Franklin is $2,203 (3.36%). Evansville's median is -0.66% compared to the US national median of $68,141.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Evansville spans $28,110,Franklin spans $47,483. Franklin has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced surgical technologists.

Evansville
P10 (Entry)$57,127
P25$65,875
Median$67,688
P75$81,811
P90 (Top)$85,237
Franklin
P10 (Entry)$46,975
P25$55,011
Median$65,485
P75$79,562
P90 (Top)$94,458

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Evansville ($73,953 effective) pays 3.11% more than Franklin ($71,725 effective).

Evansville
Nominal: $67,688
CoL Index: 91.528
Adjusted: $73,953
Franklin
Nominal: $65,485
CoL Index: 91.3
Adjusted: $71,725

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Evansville if…

  • Higher median salary ($67,688/year)
  • Larger job market (180 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $73,953)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Choose Franklin if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($94,458)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, surgical technologist salaries in Evansville grew 38.3% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 28.2% growth in Franklin over the same period.

Evansville, IN

+38.3%

$46,420 (2019) → $64,220 (2025)

Franklin, IN

+28.2%

$48,468 (2024) → $62,130 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays surgical technologists more: Evansville or Franklin?

Evansville has a higher median surgical technologist salary at $67,688/year, compared to Franklin at $65,485/year — a difference of $2,203 (3.36%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Evansville and Franklin?

Evansville surgical technologists earn $32.55/hr while Franklin hygienists earn $31.48/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Evansville to Franklin as a surgical technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Evansville and Franklin. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Evansville = $73,953, Franklin = $71,725), job availability (180 vs 6 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level surgical technologists earn in Evansville vs Franklin?

Entry-level (10th percentile) surgical technologists earn $57,127 in Evansville and $46,975 in Franklin. The Evansville 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