Surg Tech Salary

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

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

Lehi, UT
$63,450
$30.50/hr
Salt Lake City, UT
$69,237
$33.29/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLehi, UTSalt Lake City, UT
Median Salary$63,450$69,237
Hourly Rate$30.50$33.29
Entry Level (P10)$45,773$48,421
25th Percentile$52,374$55,830
75th Percentile$78,101$81,833
Top Earner (P90)$94,151$94,459
Total Employed11470
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Lehi ($63,450) and Salt Lake City ($69,237) surgical technologist salaries.LehiSalt Lake CityMedian Salary$63,450$69,237Entry Level (P10)$45,773$48,421Top Earner (P90)$94,151$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 Lehi.

The salary gap between Lehi and Salt Lake City is $5,787 (9.12%). 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 Lehi spans $48,378,Salt Lake City spans $46,038. Lehi has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Lehi
P10 (Entry)$45,773
P25$52,374
Median$63,450
P75$78,101
P90 (Top)$94,151
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 6.13% more than Lehi ($64,679 effective).

Lehi
Nominal: $63,450
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $64,679
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 Lehi 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 Lehi grew 12.9% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 50.7% growth in Salt Lake City over the same period.

Lehi, UT

+12.9%

$53,305 (2024) → $60,199 (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: Lehi or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a higher median surgical technologist salary at $69,237/year, compared to Lehi at $63,450/year — a difference of $5,787 (9.12%).

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

Lehi surgical technologists earn $30.50/hr while Salt Lake City hygienists earn $33.29/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Lehi and Salt Lake City. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Lehi = $64,679, Salt Lake City = $68,641), job availability (11 vs 470 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) surgical technologists earn $45,773 in Lehi and $48,421 in Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake City 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