Surgical technicians spend a year in college to earn an associate degree or two years to get an undergraduate degree. Bestsurgicaltechschools.com maintains a list of the best schools to pursue an associate or an undergraduate degree program. Like many other careers in the medical field, the more you advance your skills, the higher the chances of getting a better paying job. A surgical technician earns an average of $42,460 annually. The following are five reasons why you should consider becoming a surgical technician.
Impressive Salary
As stated above, the annual basic salary of a surgical technician is $42,460. If you add this to the other benefits that come with the job, then you realize that this career is a good opportunity and an excellent gateway into the healthcare industry. In some states, a surgical technician can be paid as much as $26 an hour, bringing his annual income to $55,000.
Exciting and Rewarding Work
Apart from good pay, the second most important factor in choosing a career path is whether doing the job brings you fulfilment. Surgical technician positions bring with them interesting challenges that make it quite a rewarding and exciting path. For people who find deep meaning in helping others, this job presents a fast-paced environment to do exactly that.
High Demand
The 76 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 are fast retiring. This aging population has brought with it new opportunities for people intending to join the healthcare industry. More than any other time in the country, the retiree population is growing by 10,000 every day. Older people are more susceptible to diseases as they age, creating increased strain on the country’s healthcare system and increasing the demand for healthcare professionals.
It is no wonder surgical technician jobs are projected to grow by 1% short of 20% in the next decade. This growth makes this career one of the more stable paths for people in the healthcare sector, almost assuring anyone who completes his degree that they will find a well-paying job, regardless of their location in America.
Quick Training Courses
Given the high demand for surgical technicians, many programs have been created to train people quickly and effectively. On average, a surgical technician spends two years in school. All the same, it is important to note that to legally practice as a surgical technician, you must graduate from an accredited college or university.
Opportunities to Advance
Some careers can be stagnant with no room to grow. A surgical technician career is not one of them. After spending the initial two years in medical school, you can still pursue higher learning even as you work. For those interested, they can specialize in a particular area and become an authority. Specialized training will usher you into better paying jobs because the demand is even higher for surgical tech experts. Some of the career paths you can pursue when you specialize include cranial surgical tech, vascular surgical tech and cardiac surgical tech.
As you can clearly see, the opportunities for surgical technicians in the healthcare sector are many, and there is enough evidence to conclude that the opportunities will only increase. Therefore, those who pursue this path will enjoy great pay as they find fulfilment helping people most in need.