Surgical Technologist Salary in Fayetteville, NC: $69,206 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time surgical technologist in Fayetteville, NC earns a median $69,206/year (≈ $33.27/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2055). Once you factor in Fayetteville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.0), that paycheck buys what $75,242 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.8% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, surgical technologists in Fayetteville, North Carolina, can expect a median annual salary of $69,206, slightly above the national average of $68,141. With a salary range spanning from $48,853 at the entry-level (P10) to $75,814 for the most experienced (P90), Fayetteville's pay scale reflects a competitive local market. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, highlights the burgeoning trend of robotic surgery certification, which is increasingly enhancing compensation for many surgical technologists. As healthcare facilities in Fayetteville evolve, professionals with advanced skills are not just preferred but compensated accordingly, boosting their earning potential in a growing job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,853 | $23.48 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52,721 | $25.35 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $69,206 | $33.27 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $69,206 | $33.27 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $75,814 | $36.45 |
Median Salary Position
1.56% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, NC, the surgical technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $26,961 (2026 est.). At $69,206, the local median is 1.56% above the national median of $68,141.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fayetteville: You'd be in the upper quartile
How Fayetteville Surgical Technologist Pay Compares
Fayetteville median: $69,206/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fayetteville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $64,198 | +7.80% more |
| National Average | $68,141 | +1.56% more |
Surgical Technologists in Fayetteville, NC earn a median of $69,206 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.56% higher than the national median of $68,141 and 7.80% above the North Carolina state average of $64,198.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fayetteville has a cost of living 8.02% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fayetteville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 91.978 (below the national average of 100). A surgical technologist earning $69,206 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $75,242 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.72% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$46,410
2025 BLS Actual
$65,660
2026 Current Est.
$69,206
2019–2027 Growth
+57.2%
Salary Trajectory for Surgical Technologists in Fayetteville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.40% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46,410 | Actual |
| 2020 | $47,190 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,460 | Actual |
| 2022 | $47,130 | Actual |
| 2023 | $49,940 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,870 | Actual |
| 2025 | $65,660 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $69,206 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $72,943 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, the median surgical technologist salary grew 41.5% from $46,410 (2019) to $65,660 (2025). At a 5.40% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $72,943 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,533 (57.17%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.40% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $48,853 – $52,721 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $52,721 – $69,206 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $69,206 – $69,206 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $69,206 – $75,814 |
Surg Tech, CST salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual surgical technologist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Surgical Technologist Job Market in Fayetteville
The local job market for surgical technologists in Fayetteville employs around 100 individuals, providing a stable workforce in this sector. With a cost-of-living index of 91.978, residents enjoy a purchasing power that is advantageous compared to many other U.S. cities. Employers such as hospital operating rooms, specialty surgical centers, and military/VA surgical units tend to offer higher salaries, particularly for surgical technologists specializing in areas like cardiovascular and neurosurgery. Factors such as call coverage, robotic surgery certification bonuses, and roles with additional responsibilities, like surgical first assistants, create a wide disparity in pay. To maximize earnings in this competitive environment, focusing on advanced certifications, actively seeking opportunities in high-paying specialties, and considering travel surgical tech roles can be effective strategies for those looking to boost their surgical technologist pay in Fayetteville, NC.
More salary data for Fayetteville, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do surgical technologists make in Fayetteville, NC in 2026?
Is Fayetteville, NC a good place to work as a surgical technologist?
Can surgical technologists make $100K in Fayetteville?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted surgical technologist salary in Fayetteville?
How much does a surgical technologist make per hour in Fayetteville?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $65,660 for surgical technologistsin the Fayetteville metropolitan area. A 5.40% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.40%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for surgical technologists (SOC 29-2055).
Compiled and verified by Jessica Thompson, BA, CST, a licensed surgical technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov