Surgical Technologist Jobs in Detroit, MI

Surgical technologists in metro Detroit earn a median of about $31.64 an hour, and hospital operating rooms from Midtown to Royal Oak have offered sign-on bonuses of $10,000 or more to experienced techs. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires and how to train.

Current surgical technologist Openings in Detroit, MI

Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.

Surgical Technologist Work in Detroit

Metro Detroit's surgical tech jobs follow its hospital map. In the city, Henry Ford Hospital on West Grand Boulevard in New Center and the Detroit Medical Center's Harper University/Hutzel Women's Hospital in Midtown run large operating room suites around the clock. Across Eight Mile, Corewell Health's William Beaumont University Hospital on 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak and its Troy hospital staff general, heart and specialty ORs, and McLaren Macomb in Mt. Clemens covers the Macomb County side.

Henry Ford alone posts surgical technologist roles in Detroit, Dearborn, Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, West Bloomfield and Plymouth, so techs can often pick a hospital near home along I-94, I-696 or the Southfield Freeway. Competition between systems shows in the bonuses: a recent DMC posting at Harper/Hutzel offered $13,500 to experienced techs, and Corewell has advertised up to $10,000 in Royal Oak.

Top Detroit Employers for Surgical Technologists

These metro Detroit health systems hire surgical technologists for their operating rooms:

• Henry Ford Health - hires surgical techs at Henry Ford Hospital in New Center and at its Dearborn, Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, West Bloomfield and Plymouth sites.
• Detroit Medical Center - the Tenet-owned system hires surgical techs for rotating shifts at Harper University/Hutzel Women's Hospital in Midtown.
• Corewell Health - hires surgical techs at its Royal Oak hospital, including the North Tower surgery suite, and for cardiovascular ORs in Troy.
• McLaren Macomb - the Mt. Clemens hospital hires surgical technologists for its operating room on 12-hour shifts with on-call duty.

Surgical Technologist Salaries in Detroit

• Entry level: about $22 to $27 per hour for new program graduates.
• Experienced: roughly $28 to $34 per hour for certified techs with a few years in the OR.
• Senior: $35 to $38 or more per hour for lead techs and specialty teams such as heart or neuro.

These are estimates based on BLS data for the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro, where surgical technologists earn $22.41 an hour at the 10th percentile, $31.64 at the median and $38.15 at the 90th, slightly above the Michigan median of $30.44. Certification, specialty experience, call pay, and nights or weekends move pay most, and sign-on bonuses at Detroit hospitals can add thousands in the first years.

How to Become a Surgical Technologist in Detroit

Michigan does not license surgical technologists, and no state law requires certification. Employers set the bar instead: Henry Ford, Corewell and McLaren postings ask for completion of an accredited surgical technology program, and many prefer or require national certification such as the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential. Most also require Basic Life Support certification at or soon after hire, and McLaren Macomb asks for at least 400 hours of clinical experience. Locally, Wayne County Community College District teaches Surgical Technology at its Northwest Campus Health Science Center on West Outer Drive in northwest Detroit, using a curriculum held to ARC/STSA accreditation standards.

What the Job Involves

Surgical technologists prepare the operating room and work at the surgeon's side during procedures. Daily work includes setting up sterile instruments and supplies, checking equipment, helping position and drape patients, passing instruments and sutures during surgery, counting sponges and sharps, and breaking down and sending instruments for reprocessing. Keeping the sterile field intact is the core of the job.

Skills Employers Look For

• Graduation from an accredited surgical technology program
• CST certification, or eligibility to sit for it
• Current BLS certification
• Strong sterile technique and instrument knowledge
• Ability to anticipate a surgeon's needs
• Stamina for long cases and standing for hours
• Willingness to take call, nights and weekends

Career Path and Advancement

Many Detroit surgical techs start in general surgery, then build experience in a specialty such as cardiovascular, neuro or orthopedics at one of the big teaching hospitals in Midtown, New Center or Royal Oak. From there the path runs to lead tech, OR educator or surgical first assistant, a role Henry Ford also hires for. Some techs move into sterile processing leadership or go back to school for nursing.

Related Careers in Detroit

If operating room work interests you, these related Detroit roles are close matches:

• Registered Nurse Jobs
• Radiologic Technologist Jobs
• Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs
• Healthcare Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a license to be a surgical technologist in Michigan?

No. Michigan does not license surgical technologists and has no state certification law for them. Detroit hospitals instead require graduation from an accredited program, and many prefer or require the national CST credential.

How much do surgical technologists make in Detroit?

BLS data for the Detroit metro puts the median at about $31.64 an hour, or roughly $65,810 a year. Most techs earn between about $22.40 and $38.15 an hour, before sign-on bonuses and call pay.

Where can I train to be a surgical tech in Detroit?

Wayne County Community College District runs a Surgical Technology program at its Northwest Campus Health Science Center in northwest Detroit. Check that any program you choose is accredited, since Detroit hospital postings ask for an accredited program.

Do Detroit hospitals pay sign-on bonuses for surgical techs?

Often, yes. Corewell Health has advertised up to $10,000 for surgical technologists in Royal Oak, and a recent DMC posting at Harper/Hutzel offered $13,500 for experienced techs. Bonuses often come with a work commitment, so read the terms.

What shifts do surgical techs work in Detroit?

Hospital ORs run around the clock, so jobs range from day shifts to nights and rotating schedules. Henry Ford has posted midnight-shift roles at its Detroit campus, and McLaren Macomb runs 12-hour shifts with on-call and weekend duty.

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