Surgical Technician job description.
A Surgical Technician prepares operating rooms, instruments, and sterile supplies for surgical procedures and assists the surgical team during operations. They maintain a sterile field, pass instruments to surgeons, and help with patient positioning, playing a critical hands-on role in operating room safety and efficiency.
The Surgical Technician job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Surgical Technician Reports to: Operating Room Manager or Surgical Services Director
A Surgical Technician prepares operating rooms, instruments, and sterile supplies for surgical procedures and assists the surgical team during operations. They maintain a sterile field, pass instruments to surgeons, and help with patient positioning, playing a critical hands-on role in operating room safety and efficiency.
- Prepare and sterilize the operating room, instruments, and equipment
- Set up sterile fields and verify instrument counts before and after procedures
- Pass instruments and supplies to surgeons during operations
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Operating Room Manager or Surgical Services Director
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Prepare and sterilize the operating room, instruments, and equipment
- Set up sterile fields and verify instrument counts before and after procedures
- Pass instruments and supplies to surgeons during operations
- Assist with patient positioning, prepping, and draping
- Monitor and maintain sterile technique throughout procedures
- Handle and label specimens for pathology
- Restock and maintain surgical supplies and equipment inventories
- Assist with post-operative cleanup and instrument processing
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Completion of an accredited surgical technology program
- Current certification/licensure as required by state and employer
- Strong understanding of sterile technique and infection control
- Ability to stand for long periods and work in a fast-paced OR environment
- CPR/BLS certification
- Experience in a specific surgical specialty such as orthopedics or cardiac
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Surgical Technician job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Surgical Technician job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The entry band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Operating Room Manager or Surgical Services Director) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Is certification required for this role?
- Requirements vary by state and employer; many facilities require completion of an accredited program and current certification as a condition of hire.
- What's the difference between a surgical technician and a scrub technician?
- The terms are largely interchangeable; some facilities use 'scrub tech' specifically for the sterile-field role during the procedure itself.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Surgical Technologist
A Surgical Technologist prepares operating rooms, instruments, and supplies for surgical procedures and assists the surgical team during operations.
Scrub Technician
A scrub technician assists surgeons during operations by preparing instruments, maintaining a sterile field, and passing tools during procedures.
Medical Technician
A medical technician supports clinical staff by performing diagnostic tests, collecting specimens, and maintaining medical equipment in hospitals, labs, or clinics.
This Surgical Technician job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.