Surg Tech Salary

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

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

Roy, UT
$67,795
$32.59/hr
Salt Lake City, UT
$69,237
$33.29/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRoy, UTSalt Lake City, UT
Median Salary$67,795$69,237
Hourly Rate$32.59$33.29
Entry Level (P10)$48,328$48,421
25th Percentile$56,939$55,830
75th Percentile$80,792$81,833
Top Earner (P90)$95,540$94,459
Total Employed6470
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Roy ($67,795) and Salt Lake City ($69,237) surgical technologist salaries.RoySalt Lake CityMedian Salary$67,795$69,237Entry Level (P10)$48,328$48,421Top Earner (P90)$95,540$94,459US Median $68,141

Verdict

Salt Lake City, UT offers better overall compensation for surgical technologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Roy.

The salary gap between Roy and Salt Lake City is $1,442 (2.13%). 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 Roy spans $47,212,Salt Lake City spans $46,038. Roy has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Roy
P10 (Entry)$48,328
P25$56,939
Median$67,795
P75$80,792
P90 (Top)$95,540
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, Roy ($69,108 effective) pays 0.68% more than Salt Lake City ($68,641 effective).

Roy
Nominal: $67,795
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $69,108
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 Roy if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($95,540)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $69,108)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose Salt Lake City if…

  • Higher median salary ($69,237/year)
  • Larger job market (470 employed)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

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

Roy, UT

+19.1%

$53,998 (2024) → $64,322 (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: Roy or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a higher median surgical technologist salary at $69,237/year, compared to Roy at $67,795/year — a difference of $1,442 (2.13%).

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

Roy surgical technologists earn $32.59/hr while Salt Lake City hygienists earn $33.29/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Roy and Salt Lake City. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Roy = $69,108, Salt Lake City = $68,641), job availability (6 vs 470 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) surgical technologists earn $48,328 in Roy 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