Surgical Technologists
Machines can already do 11% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 35%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Surgical Technologists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 11% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2040, and 35% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 117,460 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $64,650 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 88% for contact with people.
- Also called: Central Supply Technician (Central Supply Tech), Certified Scrub Technician (Certified Scrub Tech), CST (Certified Surgical Technologist), OR Surgical Tech (Operating Room Surgical Technician).
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation | 24% | 3% to 25% | |
| Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures | 15% | 3% to 25% | |
| Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card | 8% | 3% to 25% | |
| Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure | 6% | 3% to 25% | |
| Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists | 6% | 3% to 25% | |
| Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing | 5% | 3% to 25% | |
| Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers | 5% | 18% to 51% | |
| Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs | 5% | 36% to 68% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills surgical technologists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses33% of tasks by 2035 · US median $64,400
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Surgical Technologists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2040. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of surgical technologists?
Machines can do 11% of the tasks of surgical technologists today and 35% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 29-2055.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Surgical Technologists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/surgical-technologists/