Surgical Technologist Jobs in Portland, OR
Surgical technologists in Portland start around $34 to $36 an hour at OHSU, Legacy and Kaiser Permanente, and senior techs reach about $49. Oregon law sets strict training and certification rules for operating room work. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to qualify.
Current surgical technologist Openings in Portland, OR
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Surgical Technologist Work in Portland
Surgical techs in Portland work where the operating rooms are: OHSU's perioperative services on Marquam Hill, Legacy's surgery and women's services at Good Samaritan on NW 22nd Ave and its other hospitals, and Kaiser Permanente's operating rooms at Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas. Hospital ORs run around the clock, so many postings include call, weekends and 12-hour night shifts, and specialty teams such as open heart and women's services hire their own techs.
What sets Portland apart is the law. Under ORS 676.875, an Oregon health care facility may only let you practice surgical technology if you completed an accredited program and hold an approved national certification, finished a registered apprenticeship, trained in the military, or already practiced before 2017. Across the Columbia in Vancouver, Washington adds its own Registered Surgical Technologist credential.
Top Portland Employers Hiring Surgical Technologists
These Portland employers list surgical technologist roles on their own career sites:
- OHSU - hires Surgical Services Technologists for its operating rooms, AFSCME represented, with day shifts plus weekends and call.
- Legacy Health - staffs surgical techs at Good Samaritan Medical Center, including a women's services team, plus open heart and Meridian Park roles.
- Kaiser Permanente - hires Surgical Technician, Operating Room II roles at Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, represented by OFNHP/AFT Local 5017.
Surgical Technologist Salaries in Portland
- Entry level: about $34 to $36 per hour for newly certified techs.
- Experienced: roughly $37 to $44 per hour with a few years of scrubbing cases.
- Senior / specialty: $44 to $49 per hour for top-of-scale and specialty team techs.
These are estimates drawn from the ranges OHSU, Legacy and Kaiser post for Portland jobs. Legacy adds $2.50 an hour for evenings, $4.30 for nights and $3.00 for weekends. Years of experience, specialty team work such as open heart, and the union scales at OHSU and Kaiser move pay the most.
How to Become a Surgical Technologist in Portland
The standard route is an accredited surgical technology program followed by the national certification exam from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham offers a CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technology associate degree that prepares students for that exam. Oregon law gives new graduates 12 months after finishing an accredited program to earn certification, and also accepts a registered apprenticeship or military surgical tech training. There is no separate state license in Oregon, but certification is a legal requirement for working in a facility.
What the Job Involves
Surgical technologists set up the sterile field, instruments and supplies before a case, then scrub in and pass instruments, sutures and sponges to the surgeon. They anticipate each step of the procedure, keep counts of instruments and sponges with the circulating nurse, handle specimens, and break down and send instruments to sterile processing afterward. On call, techs come in for emergency and trauma cases at night and on weekends.
Skills Employers Look For
- NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist credential
- BLS certification
- Strict sterile technique
- Instrument knowledge across surgical specialties
- Steady focus during long cases
- Teamwork with surgeons and circulating nurses
Career Path and Advancement
Most Portland techs start on general surgery cases, then specialize in a service line such as open heart or women's services, both of which Legacy staffs with dedicated teams. From there the ladder runs to senior or lead surgical tech, OR educator and surgical first assistant. Some techs move into sterile processing leadership or go on to nursing school.
Related Careers in Portland
If operating room work interests you, these related Portland roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a surgical technologist in Portland?
Oregon has no separate state license, but ORS 676.875 bars facilities from letting you practice without qualifying training and certification. Most new techs meet it with an accredited program and NBSTSA certification. Washington, across the river, requires a Registered Surgical Technologist credential.
How much do surgical techs make in Portland?
Posted ranges at OHSU, Legacy and Kaiser run from about $34 to $49 an hour. Night and weekend differentials add more, and specialty team experience pushes you toward the top of the scale.
Can I work as a surgical tech in Oregon before I am certified?
Yes, for a limited time. Oregon law lets a facility employ you for 12 months after you finish an accredited program while you earn certification, and active apprentices in a registered program can work under direct supervision.
Where can I train to be a surgical technologist near Portland?
Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham runs a CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technology associate degree that prepares students for the NBSTSA exam. Military surgical tech training also qualifies under Oregon law, with 16 hours of continuing education every two years.
What shifts do Portland surgical techs work?
It varies by hospital and team. OHSU posts day shifts with required weekends and call, Kaiser posts full-time days at Sunnyside, and Legacy hires 12-hour night techs for women's services at Good Samaritan.
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