Surgical Technologists

Surgical Technologists score 7 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #799 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 16 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 1 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

7/ 100

Low

Rank: #799of 923 jobs
US workers: 117,460BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $64,650a year
In real AI use: 0 of 16tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (6%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 1 (6%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 14 (88%)

Maintain files and records of surgical procedures.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Order surgical supplies.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, or diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Observe patients' vital signs to assess physical condition.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Maintain supply of fluids, such as plasma, saline, blood, or glucose, for use during operations.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

This job is already among the least exposed in its field.

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Questions about surgical technologists and AI

Will AI replace surgical technologists?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Surgical Technologists score 7 out of 100 (low exposure), #799 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 2 of the job's 16 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 14 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which surgical technologists tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Maintain files and records of surgical procedures".

Which surgical technologists tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures"; "Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation"; "Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as surgical technologists, and what do they earn?

About 117,460 people in the US, with median pay of $64,650 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.