In order to become a surgical technician (surgical tech) in Iowa (IA), you will need to complete an accredited surgical tech program.
Surgical tech programs in Iowa are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) as well as the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
There are 7 accredited schools in Iowa offering surgical tech degree programs.
A high school diploma or similar is typically a prerequisite for admission into such programs. Some schools may require certain subjects such as biology and maths as a prerequisite. You may also be required to undergo some background checks and health screening as part of the admittance process.
Most surgical tech programs will typically take between 9 months and 2 years to complete depending on whether it is a certificate or degree program.
Once you have graduated from an accredited program you can then choose to sit the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) certification exams to become a Certified Surgical Technologist. Certification is not essential but it is generally preferred by employers and will help greatly with career advancement.
As of yet licensing for surgical technicians is only a requirement in a small number of states including Colorado, Illinois, Washington, Indiana, and DC.
Accredited Surgical Tech Programs in Iowa
| College | Metro Area | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Area Community College | Des Moines | dmacc.edu |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Spencer | iowalakes.edu |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs | iwcc.edu |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | kirkwood.edu |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | Des Moines | mercydesmoines.org |
| Scott Community College | Bettendorf | eicc.edu |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | witcc.edu |
Before you enrol in any surgical tech school it is strongly recommended that you confirm that it is fully accredited.
There are currently 7 accredited surgical technician programs in Iowa – listed above.
Get started with your new career in healthcare today and reach out to surgical tech schools near you in Iowa for program, admissions and tuition information.
You can also view the map below for more information on surgical technician programs in Iowa.
Surgical Tech Salary Iowa
| Average Salary | $40,780 |
|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $19.61 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $51,750 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $31,700 |
| # Employed | 760 |
According to the most up to date Bureau of Labor Statistics data released in March 2018 the average surgical technician salary in Iowa is $40,780 – 15% less than the national average of $48,060.
This equates to an hourly wage of $19.61.
Those in the top pay brackets for the profession in Iowa earn an average salary of $51,750 whilst those in the lower pay brackets and in entry-level positions earn an average of $31,700 per annum.
There are currently 760 persons working as surgical technicians in Iowa.
Iowa Surgical Tech Employment and Salaries by Metro Area
The table below details salary and employment levels for surgical technicians in the main cities and metro areas in Iowa.
As can be seen from the table the highest average salaries for surgical techs in Iowa are in the Sioux City area whilst the highest number of surgical tech jobs are in Sioux City.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | Top 10% | Bottom 10% | # Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $40,740 | $50,320 | $31,640 | 180 |
| Dubuque | $41,550 | $58,050 | $29,510 | 120 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $35,680 | $48,490 | $26,210 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $42,690 | $55,630 | $32,770 | - |
| Sioux City | $60,520 | $81,460 | $41,390 | 370 |
Surgical Tech V’s Related Careers
A career as a surgical technician offers great income potential and excellent job prospects with growth of over 11% projected between 2016 and 2024.
The table below compares the average surgical technician salary and employment in Iowa with salary levels for related healthcare careers in the state.
| Surgical Technologist | Surgical Technologist | Medical Assistant | Nursing Assistant | Dental Assistant | Emergency Medical Technician | Pharmacy Technician | Respiratory Therapist Technician | Veterinary Technician | Phlebotomy Technician | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $40,780 | 760 | $34,030 | 4,920 | $28,300 | 20,740 | $39,900 | 2,960 | $29,820 | 3,000 | $25,570 | 580 | $43,870 | 140 | $34,730 | 870 | $30,310 | 1,100 |
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