Surgical Technologist Jobs in Denver, CO
Surgical technologists in the Denver metro earned a median of about $37 an hour in 2025, and HCA HealthONE has advertised sign-on bonuses of up to $15,000 at Presbyterian/St. Luke's. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires surgical techs in Denver and how to get registered with the state.
Current surgical technologist Openings in Denver, CO
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Surgical Technologist Work in Denver
Denver's operating rooms are concentrated in a handful of busy hospital campuses. In Uptown, the East 19th Avenue hospital corridor holds HCA HealthONE Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, where surgical techs cover general, orthopedic and obstetric cases. Denver Health runs a Level I trauma center on Bannock Street near the Golden Triangle, so its surgical services team staffs nights and weekends. AdventHealth Porter on South Downing Street posts CST roles for its main OR, cardiovascular OR, neuro-spine and transplant teams, and Children's Hospital Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus in north Aurora hires surgical technicians for pediatric surgery and labor and delivery.
Colorado is one of the states that makes surgical technologists register before they scrub in, which shapes hiring here: Denver ORs ask for proof of state registration alongside BLS, and most want national certification as well. Specialty teams such as cardiovascular and transplant pay a premium for experience, and call schedules are common at trauma and transplant centers.
Top Denver Employers for Surgical Technologists
These hospitals employ surgical technologists across the Denver metro:
- AdventHealth Porter - the south Denver hospital hires certified surgical techs for its main OR, cardiovascular OR, neuro-spine and transplant services, with day shifts and PRN options.
- HCA HealthONE Presbyterian/St. Luke's - the Uptown medical center on East 19th Avenue hires Surgical Technologist III staff who hold Colorado surgical registration and a year of OR experience.
- Denver Health - the city's safety-net hospital and Level I trauma center hires certified surgical services technologists for its Bannock Street operating rooms, including weekend and night coverage.
- Children's Hospital Colorado - hires surgical technicians, senior surgical technicians and labor and delivery surgical techs on the Anschutz campus in Aurora.
Surgical Technologist Salaries in Denver
- Entry level: about $26 to $31 an hour for new graduates and techs in their first year.
- Experienced: roughly $31 to $40 an hour with several years in a hospital OR.
- Senior and specialty: $40 to $45 an hour for lead, cardiovascular, neuro and transplant techs.
These are estimates built from BLS figures for the Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro, where the median surgical technologist earned about $37.03 an hour in 2025, and from ranges Denver hospitals have posted: $26.52 to $40.90 at Presbyterian/St. Luke's and $27.86 to $44.56 at AdventHealth Porter. Specialty service lines, call pay, night and weekend shifts, and CST certification move pay the most, and sign-on bonuses are common for experienced techs.
How to Become a Surgical Technologist in Denver
Colorado requires surgical technologists to register with the Office of Surgical Assistant and Surgical Technologist Registration in the Division of Professions and Occupations at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) before performing surgical tech duties, and registration includes a criminal history check. State law does not require national certification, but Denver employers do: AdventHealth asks for certification from NBSTSA or NCCT, Denver Health requires the NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential, and HCA prefers it. Community College of Denver offers a CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technology AAS at its Lowry Campus, 1070 Alton Way, a 60-credit program that can be finished in about 12 months, with students taking the CST exam in their last semester. Pima Medical Institute also offers an associate Surgical Technology program at its Denver campus on Dakin Street.
What the Job Involves
Surgical technologists prepare the operating room, sterilize and arrange instruments, and set up the sterile field before each case. During surgery they pass instruments and supplies to the surgeon, anticipate the next step, count sponges and sharps, and keep the field sterile. Afterward they help dress wounds, break down the room and send instruments to sterile processing for the next case.
Skills Employers Look For
- Colorado surgical technologist registration through DORA
- CST certification from NBSTSA, or NCCT certification
- Current BLS card
- Strong sterile technique and instrument knowledge
- Ability to anticipate surgeon needs under pressure
- Comfort with long cases, call and on-your-feet work
- Specialty experience in ortho, cardiovascular, neuro or OB
Career Path and Advancement
Most Denver surgical techs start in a general OR rotation, then specialize in a service line such as cardiovascular, neuro-spine, transplant or pediatrics at hospitals like AdventHealth Porter and Children's Colorado. From there the ladder runs to senior or lead tech, OR educator and surgical services coordinator, and some go on to become surgical first assistants, which Colorado registers through the same DORA office.
Related Careers in Denver
If operating room work interests you, these related Denver healthcare roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a surgical technologist in Denver?
Colorado requires registration rather than a license. You register with the Office of Surgical Assistant and Surgical Technologist Registration at DORA, which includes a criminal history check, before working as a surgical tech.
Is CST certification required in Colorado?
State law does not require national certification, but most Denver hospitals do. Denver Health requires the NBSTSA CST, AdventHealth accepts NBSTSA or NCCT certification, and HCA HealthONE lists the CST as preferred.
How much do surgical technologists make in Denver?
New surgical techs generally start around $26 to $31 an hour, experienced techs earn about $31 to $40, and lead or specialty techs can reach $40 to $45. The 2025 metro median was about $37 an hour, before call pay or sign-on bonuses.
How long does surgical tech school take in Denver?
The Surgical Technology AAS at Community College of Denver is a 60-credit program that can be completed in about 12 months, or three semesters. Students take the national CST exam during their final semester.
Do Denver hospitals require OR experience to hire?
It varies. HCA HealthONE asks for a year of surgical tech experience, while AdventHealth Porter lists a year in a surgical setting as preferred rather than required. New graduates often start with PRN or day-shift roles to build that first year.
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