Surgical Technologist Jobs in Kansas City, MO
Surgical technologists in Kansas City scrub cases at University Health on Hospital Hill, Children's Mercy, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission and The University of Kansas Health System, with posted pay starting around $24 to $27 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires and how to get certified.
Current surgical technologist Openings in Kansas City, MO
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Surgical Technologist Work in Kansas City
Operating room work in Kansas City follows the big hospital campuses. University Health Truman Medical Center on Hospital Hill runs the region's public safety-net ORs, where scrub techs handle trauma and a wide mix of general cases. Children's Mercy staffs pediatric surgery at Adele Hall and at its Kansas Campus in Overland Park. On the Kansas side, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission on West 74th Street, its surgery centers in Lenexa and at Prairie Star, and KU Health's ORs in Kansas City, KS, Indian Creek, Olathe and Liberty add a steady stream of hospital and outpatient openings.
The mix gives Kansas City techs a real choice of pace. Hospital ORs mean call, nights and trauma, while outpatient surgery departments in Johnson County and at KU Health's Liberty campus in the Northland mostly run daytime schedules. Employers here also split jobs by certification: some, like AdventHealth's top tier, require the CST, while others hire non-certified techs and pay more once you pass the exam.
Top Kansas City Employers for Surgical Technologists
These health systems hire surgical technologists across the Kansas City metro:
- University Health - the public academic system hires OR surgical technologists at University Health Truman Medical Center on Hospital Hill, with 8, 10 and 12 hour shifts.
- Children's Mercy Kansas City - the pediatric system hires surgical technicians, including at its Kansas Campus in Overland Park.
- AdventHealth Shawnee Mission - the Johnson County hospital and its Lenexa and Prairie Star surgery centers hire certified and non-certified surgical techs, full time, part time and PRN.
- The University of Kansas Health System - the academic medical center hires surgical technologists and scrub techs in Kansas City, KS, Indian Creek, Olathe and Liberty.
Surgical Technologist Salaries in Kansas City
- Entry level: about $24 to $27 an hour for new graduates and non-certified techs.
- Experienced: roughly $28 to $36 an hour for certified techs with a few years of scrub experience.
- Senior / lead and specialty: about $37 to $44 an hour for lead techs and CVOR, neuro or ortho specialists.
These are estimates built from posted ranges. Children's Mercy has posted a $26.65 starting rate for a Surgical Technician II at its Kansas Campus, and AdventHealth Shawnee Mission has posted $24.01 to $44.65 for a Certified Surgical Technologist III. The CST credential, call pay, and specialty teams such as cardiovascular surgery move pay the most.
How to Become a Surgical Technologist in Kansas City
Most employers want graduation from an accredited surgical technology program. Metropolitan Community College runs a CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technology associate degree at the MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute: three semesters, about 12 months, weekday classes, with a clinical externship at area hospitals and the CST exam included. Neither Missouri nor Kansas licenses or registers surgical technologists, so the credential that matters is the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. University Health's OR posting also accepts military surgical corpsman or medic training.
What the Job Involves
Surgical technologists prepare the operating room, sterilize and count instruments, set up the sterile field and pass instruments and supplies to the surgeon during the case. They anticipate the next step of each procedure, keep the field sterile, handle specimens, and help turn the room over between cases. The job means standing for long stretches, wearing lead aprons during imaging, and lifting heavy instrument trays.
Skills Employers Look For
- CST certification, or eligibility to sit for it
- Strict sterile technique
- Instrument knowledge across several surgical specialties
- BLS certification
- Stamina for long cases and on-call shifts
- Calm focus under pressure in trauma and emergency cases
Career Path and Advancement
Many Kansas City techs start in general surgery at a hospital such as University Health or KU Health, earn the CST if they came in without it, then specialize in cardiovascular, neuro, orthopedic or pediatric surgery. From there the ladder runs to lead surgical technologist, first assistant roles after further training, and sterile processing or OR management. Outpatient surgery centers in Lenexa and Overland Park are a common next step for techs who want day schedules.
Related Careers in Kansas City
If surgery interests you, these Kansas City healthcare roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a surgical tech in Kansas City?
No. Neither Missouri nor Kansas requires a state license or registration for surgical technologists. Employers set the bar instead, and many Kansas City hospitals prefer or require the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential.
How much do surgical technologists make in Kansas City?
New techs generally start around $24 to $27 an hour, experienced certified techs earn roughly $28 to $36, and lead or specialty techs can reach about $44 an hour. These are estimates from posted employer ranges, and call pay adds to them.
How long does surgical tech school take in Kansas City?
The Surgical Technology associate degree at MCC-Penn Valley takes three semesters, about 12 months, with classes on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The clinical externship starts in the spring semester, and some clinical sites are outside the metro.
Can I work as a surgical tech without the CST?
Yes, at some employers. AdventHealth Shawnee Mission posts both certified and non-certified surgical tech jobs, and Children's Mercy lists the CST as preferred rather than required. Expect higher pay and more job options once you pass the exam.
Do surgical techs take call in Kansas City?
Hospital surgical techs usually do, since trauma and emergency cases run nights and weekends at hospitals such as University Health Truman Medical Center. Outpatient surgery centers, such as AdventHealth's Lenexa surgery center, mostly run daytime schedules with lighter call.
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