Surgical Technologist Jobs in Des Moines, IA: Pay and Who's Hiring

In Des Moines, the May 2025 median for surgical technologists is about $62.3K, 4% under the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $60.8K to $62.7K.

Pay

The median is the middle of surgical technologists already employed, not a starting wage. The 25th is the lower quarter of that group. The 75th is what the upper quarter already earns.

Percentile	Metro	IA	U.S.
25th	$60,760	$50,680	$54,690
Median	$62,250	$60,540	$64,650
75th	$62,730	$62,880	$79,750

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

Hiring difficulty and demand

Hiring difficulty

7.1

Metro employment

230

National growth, 2025 to 2035

National openings a year

7.1 thousand

This is the same score as the free check.

Who's hiring

Central Iowa Hospital, 2 campuses
Dallas County Hospital, 2 campuses
Mentor Abi, 2 campuses
Surgery Centers of Des Moines, 2 campuses
Wolfe Surgery Center, 2 campuses
Advanced Surgery Center of Central Iowa, 1 campuses

Campuses on file in the provider extract, not live job ads.

License and training

Most states do not license surgical technologists, but several require certification or registration. Employers often want the CST from NBSTSA. Confirm the rule in your state.

Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, surgical technologists

The work

You open the case, count instruments and sponges, and pass what the surgeon needs before they ask for it. Then you count everything again before the incision is closed.

Call and add-on cases are common in hospitals, including nights and weekends. Surgery centers usually run a tighter and steadier daytime schedule.

Nearby metros

Waterloo, IA · 91 miles
Iowa City, IA · 108 miles
Omaha, NE · 128 miles
Davenport, IA · 155 miles

Related roles

One manager hiring: Hire a Surgical Technologist in Des Moines.

Surgical Technologists hiring pages

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Questions

Who hires surgical technologists in Des Moines?

Hospitals and surgery centers hire surgical technologists in Des Moines. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Central Iowa Hospital, Dallas County Hospital, Mentor Abi.

Do I need certification as a surgical tech in Iowa?

Some states require it. Check the Iowa rule before you start in Des Moines.

What should a surgery center in Des Moines weigh when hiring?

Ask which cases the tech scrubs alone. Des Moines has roughly a fifth fewer of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is within 3 percent of the Iowa median.