Surgical Technologist Jobs in Illinois
Surgical Technologist jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with strong demand concentrated in hospital systems, ambulatory surgical centers, and specialty surgery practices from entry-level scrub tech positions through senior first-assist roles. Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria account for the largest share of openings, anchored by major employers such as Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health Care, and OSF HealthCare. The most in-demand specialties in Illinois include orthopedic, cardiovascular, and general surgery. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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4)Acts as preceptor, sharing knowledge in a supportive/educational manner. 5)Maintains on-call availability. 6)Assists in emergency situations as assigned, demonstrating appropriate actions and prioritizing to meet patient's condition. 7)Maintains a safe work environment according to regulatory agency standards.
8)Anticipates the needs of the physician as demonstrated by having all items required readily available on the sterile field. 9)Participates in the surgical Time Out and does not allow the procedure to continue until all team members agree. Responsible for the preparation of the surgical field and supplies/instruments delivered to the field. 1)Verifies instrument/supply/equipment available and ready per physician preference card.
2)Verifies specific needs of physician by completely reading scrub tips. 3)Assists in opening sterile supplies and instruments. 4)Assists with clean up and turnover upon completion of case. 5)Efficiently utilizes supplies to avoid waste and decrease costs.
In collaboration with health care team, assists in providing for a cooperative work environment. 1)Assists with maintaining the established goals of Surgical Services and Advocate 2)Shares clinical and professional knowledge in a supportive/educational manner. 3)Demonstrates self-direction in utilizing work time appropriately. 4)Accepts and completes team responsibilities as assigned.
5)Informs the Team Leader of changes to the physician preference cards. 6)Ensures proper instrument and equipment function; tagging and reporting any broken or malfunctioning equipment/instruments to supervisor. Responsible for compliance with hospital policies and procedures. 1)Maintains patient confidentiality.
2)Utilizes Standards of Behavior with members of health care team and patients. 3)Promotes a culture of patient safety by reporting of issues through established channels and participating as requested in safety initiatives. 4)Acts as patient advocate to ensure patient welfare by collaborating with physicians and the health care team. Responsible for maintenance of professional growth.
5)Maintains current competencies. 1)Demonstrates self-direction in maintaining professional skills. 2)Independently completes assignments/projects. 3)Participates in unit/hospital committees and projects.
4)Maintains educational records and timecard. Education/Experience Required: Graduate of surgical technologist program OR 2 years of surgical scrub experience Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: N/A •CPR certified. •Certified Surgical Technologist certification will be obtained by the employee by sitting for the certification exam within 3 months of employment. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: •Must be willing to work with exposures to body fluids, waste and chemicals, radiation, hazardous materials, anesthesia gases and life threatening diseases •On-call availability (nights, weekends, holidays) •Rotating shifts This position needs to recognize the needs and behaviors of specific age groups of patients treated.
- Ability to move heavy patients and equipment and to stand for long periods of time •Flexibility to deal with stressful, changing environments •Ability to respond quickly to emergencies Ability to communicate, cooperate and work well with others. If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available.
See All 55 Surgical Technologist Jobs in Illinois
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Find Surgical Technologist JobsSurgical Technologist Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Surgical Technologist Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in surgical technologist jobs across Illinois.
- Active CST certification from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting required
- Graduate of an accredited surgical technology program recognized by CAAHEP or ABHES
- Minimum one to two years of operating room scrubbing experience preferred by most employers
- Demonstrated proficiency scrubbing orthopedic, cardiovascular, or general surgery procedures
- Current BLS certification from the American Heart Association required at hire
- Ability to handle instruments, supplies, and equipment in a sterile field during procedures
Surgical Technologist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a surgical technologist in Illinois?
Illinois does not require a state-issued license for surgical technologists, but nearly all employers require national certification through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, which awards the Certified Surgical Technologist credential. To sit for that exam, candidates must complete an accredited surgical technology program recognized by CAAHEP or ABHES. Many Illinois community colleges and hospital-based programs offer those accredited pathways.
How much do surgical technologists make in Illinois?
Surgical technologists in Illinois earn a median of about $64,650 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $48,560 for the lowest 10% to over $91,890 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire surgical technologists in Illinois?
Employers hiring surgical technologists in Illinois right now include Memorial Health, MercyOne, and OSF HealthCare, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's large integrated health systems and the density of ambulatory surgical centers in the Chicago metro mean openings appear regularly across both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Which Illinois cities have the most surgical technologist jobs?
Springfield, Silvis, and Chicago have the most surgical technologist openings in Illinois. Chicago's concentration of academic medical centers and specialty hospitals drives the largest share of demand, while Rockford and Peoria are anchored by regional systems such as OSF HealthCare and Mercyhealth that serve broad catchment areas and maintain active OR staffing needs throughout the year.
Are there remote surgical technologist jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Surgical technology is a hands-on, sterile-field role performed in operating rooms and procedure suites, so the vast majority of positions require on-site presence. About 0% of surgical technologist openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to be limited to education, training coordination, or surgical technology instructor roles rather than direct patient care.
How can I get hired as a surgical technologist in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing an accredited program at an Illinois community college such as Triton College or Malcolm X College, which include clinical rotations that count as hands-on experience. Large Illinois systems like Northwestern Medicine and Advocate Health Care hire new graduates into structured OR orientation programs. Candidates coming from sterile processing or surgical nursing assistant roles also have a strong internal transfer path and should emphasize that adjacent OR exposure when applying.
Where can I find and apply to surgical technologist jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to surgical technologist jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Find roles that match your experience, specialty, and preferred location, then apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 55 Surgical Technologist Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Surgical Technologist Jobs