Surgical Technologists
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon's assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
AI Impact Summary
Surgical Technologists faces low AI displacement risk with a score of 22/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 11% of all analyzed occupations. Of 18 analyzed tasks, 4 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Surgical Technologists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
18 tasks analyzed
Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.
Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.
Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.
Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, or diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation.
Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery.
Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.
Order surgical supplies.
Maintain supply of fluids, such as plasma, saline, blood, or glucose, for use during operations.
Observe patients' vital signs to assess physical condition.
Maintain files and records of surgical procedures.
Transport patients to and from the operating room.
Schedule surgical procedures for patients.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 12% | |
| Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation. | 85Estimated | 83.2% | 5% | |
| Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing. | 25Estimated | 43.0% | 5% | |
| Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 8% | |
| Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 10% | |
| Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 15% | |
| Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 3% | |
| Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 6% | |
| Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 8% | |
| Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, or diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 4% | |
| Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 6% | |
| Order surgical supplies. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 2% | |
| Maintain supply of fluids, such as plasma, saline, blood, or glucose, for use during operations. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 2% | |
| Observe patients' vital signs to assess physical condition. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 2% | |
| Maintain files and records of surgical procedures. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 2% | |
| Transport patients to and from the operating room. | 25Estimated | 43.0% | 3% | |
| Schedule surgical procedures for patients. | 85Estimated | 83.2% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 32.4%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$62,830
per year
Mean Wage
$65,810
per year
Employment
114K
workers
Wage Range
$43,290 - $90,700
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Surgical Technologists professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 1 scoring run