Surg Tech Salary

Knoxville vs Spring Hill: Surgical Technologist Salary (2026)

Compare surgical technologist salaries between Knoxville, TN and Spring Hill, TN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Knoxville, TN
$57,865
$27.82/hr
Spring Hill, TN
$62,728
$30.15/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricKnoxville, TNSpring Hill, TN
Median Salary$57,865$62,728
Hourly Rate$27.82$30.15
Entry Level (P10)$50,191$42,691
25th Percentile$54,534$51,231
75th Percentile$63,851$79,032
Top Earner (P90)$66,855$96,110
Total Employed52014
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Knoxville ($57,865) and Spring Hill ($62,728) surgical technologist salaries.KnoxvilleSpring HillMedian Salary$57,865$62,728Entry Level (P10)$50,191$42,691Top Earner (P90)$66,855$96,110US Median $68,141

Verdict

Spring Hill, TN offers better overall compensation for surgical technologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Knoxville.

The salary gap between Knoxville and Spring Hill is $4,863 (8.40%). Spring Hill's median is -7.94% compared to the US national median of $68,141.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Knoxville spans $16,664,Spring Hill spans $53,419. Spring Hill has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced surgical technologists.

Knoxville
P10 (Entry)$50,191
P25$54,534
Median$57,865
P75$63,851
P90 (Top)$66,855
Spring Hill
P10 (Entry)$42,691
P25$51,231
Median$62,728
P75$79,032
P90 (Top)$96,110

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Spring Hill ($68,331 effective) pays 9.31% more than Knoxville ($62,510 effective).

Knoxville
Nominal: $57,865
CoL Index: 92.569
Adjusted: $62,510
Spring Hill
Nominal: $62,728
CoL Index: 91.8
Adjusted: $68,331

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Knoxville if…

  • Larger job market (520 employed)
  • You prefer the Tennessee area and lifestyle

Choose Spring Hill if…

  • Higher median salary ($62,728/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($96,110)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $68,331)
  • You prefer the Tennessee area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, surgical technologist salaries in Knoxville grew 35.0% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 30.4% growth in Spring Hill over the same period.

Knoxville, TN

+35.0%

$40,680 (2019) → $54,900 (2025)

Spring Hill, TN

+30.4%

$45,650 (2024) → $59,514 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays surgical technologists more: Knoxville or Spring Hill?

Spring Hill has a higher median surgical technologist salary at $62,728/year, compared to Knoxville at $57,865/year — a difference of $4,863 (8.40%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Knoxville and Spring Hill?

Knoxville surgical technologists earn $27.82/hr while Spring Hill hygienists earn $30.15/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Knoxville to Spring Hill as a surgical technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Knoxville and Spring Hill. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Knoxville = $62,510, Spring Hill = $68,331), job availability (520 vs 14 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level surgical technologists earn in Knoxville vs Spring Hill?

Entry-level (10th percentile) surgical technologists earn $50,191 in Knoxville and $42,691 in Spring Hill. The Knoxville area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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