Healthcare practitioners · SOC 29-2055
Surgical technologists
BLS projects 118,400 jobs in 2025 to become 124,300 by 2035 — +5.0%, against +3.5% across all occupations.
+5.0%
projected change to 2035
About 5,900 more jobs
7,100
openings a year
6.0% of the occupation a year, counting people who retire or move on
$64,650
median annual pay
Usually entered with: postsecondary nondegree award
2025 to 2035
Employment at the start and end of the projection, in jobs.
- 2025 employment118,400
- 2035 projected124,300
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–2035 projections.
Other healthcare practitioners occupations
The largest occupations in the same group, by projected change to 2035.
- Registered nurses3,465,400+5.6%
- Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses666,900+3.0%
- Pharmacy technicians471,200+6.4%
- Physicians, all other367,400+3.4%
- Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians343,000+2.7%
- Nurse practitioners336,300+41.0%
- Pharmacists325,200+5.2%
- Physical therapists283,700+11.9%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.