Surgical Technologist Jobs in Iowa
Surgical Technologist jobs in Iowa are concentrated in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City, where large health systems like UnityPoint Health, University of Iowa Health Care, and MercyOne operate major surgical programs and hire at every level from new graduate to senior scrub tech. Demand is strongest in orthopedic, cardiovascular, and general surgery, with outpatient surgery centers adding openings alongside the major hospital campuses. Iowa's relatively stable healthcare employment base keeps the market active without the boom-and-bust swings seen in faster-growing states. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 47+ Surgical Technologist jobs
Qualified candidates may be eligible for a sign-on incentive of up to $5,000. Current UI employees are not eligible.
University of Iowa Health Care—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives. ®
University of Iowa Health Care's Otolaryngology Clinic is seeking a 80% Surgical Technologist II to assists with procedures; provision of therapeutic, preventive and emergency patient care duties; and preparation, operation and maintenance of routine and complex equipment, instruments and supplies. All duties are done under the direction of a registered professional nurse.
Position Summary:
Under the direction of Staff Nurses, assists with procedures, the provision of therapeutic, preventive and emergency patient care duties. Prepares, operates and maintains routine and complex equipment, instruments, supplies and implants.
Duties to Include:
Prepares surgical area for patient care and anticipates the needs of the surgical team.
Serves as primary preceptor for Surgical Technology students, Summer 10 Nursing Interns or new staff.
Serves on shared governance committee, POD committee or EBP workgroup.
Applies knowledge related to emergency situations and surgical procedures in the operating room.
Understands the principles of medical and surgical asepsis; recognizes and communicates breaks in aseptic technique.
Provides for proper care and handling of equipment, instruments, supplies and implants (E/I/S/I).
Understand the various surgical equipment and advanced surgical instrumentation in order to anticipate needs during surgery to improve the overall flow of the surgical procedure.
Competent in performance of delegated technical functions and clinical activities, in accordance with institutional policies.
Facilitate patient care with regard to the patient's condition and age.
High level of collaboration with peers in making decisions related to surgical patient care with responsibility over maintaining the sterile field and reporting incidence to surgeon
Percent of Time: 80% (32 hours per week)
Schedule: 0800-1630 Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday. (Wednesdays off)
Location: Pomerantz Family Pavilion
Merit Pay Plan: https://hr.uiowa.edu/pay/pay-plans/merit-pay-plan
Benefits Highlights: Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans. Relocation Assistant available to qualified applicants. https://hr.uiowa.edu/benefits
Required Qualifications:
- Satisfactory completion of a vocational or military course in surgical technology, or certification as a surgical technologist. (NBSTSA and NCCT) (Completion of an in-service training program for surgical technologists is acceptable).
- Two years of Surgical technologist experience.
Desired Qualifications:
- Ability to utilize existing resources and learning to achieve or exceed desired outcomes of current and future organizational goals/needs.
- Ability to demonstrate ethical behavior in situations while producing results.
- Ability to meet or exceed customer service needs and expectations and provide excellent service in a direct or indirect manner.
- Ability to effectively transmit and interpret information through appropriate communication with internal and external customers.
- Professional job-related experience fostering or promoting a welcoming and respectful work/academic environment where people of all backgrounds and perspectives feel welcomed and appreciated; or demonstrated the ability to do so.
Please attach a resume as part of the application process. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 10 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. For questions or additional information, please contact Nicole Olmstead at nicole-olmstead@uiowa.edu
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
- Classification Title: Surgical Technologist
- Appointment Type: Merit
- Schedule: Part-time
- Work Modality Options: On Campus
- Pay Level: 13
- Organization: Healthcare
- Contact Name: Nicole Olmstead
- Contact Email: nicole-olmstead@uiowa.edu
Qualified candidates may be eligible for a sign-on incentive of up to $5,000. Current UI employees are not eligible.
University of Iowa Health Care—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives. ®
University of Iowa Health Care's Otolaryngology Clinic is seeking a 80% Surgical Technologist II to assists with procedures; provision of therapeutic, preventive and emergency patient care duties; and preparation, operation and maintenance of routine and complex equipment, instruments and supplies. All duties are done under the direction of a registered professional nurse.
Position Summary:
Under the direction of Staff Nurses, assists with procedures, the provision of therapeutic, preventive and emergency patient care duties. Prepares, operates and maintains routine and complex equipment, instruments, supplies and implants.
Duties to Include:
Prepares surgical area for patient care and anticipates the needs of the surgical team.
Serves as primary preceptor for Surgical Technology students, Summer 10 Nursing Interns or new staff.
Serves on shared governance committee, POD committee or EBP workgroup.
Applies knowledge related to emergency situations and surgical procedures in the operating room.
Understands the principles of medical and surgical asepsis; recognizes and communicates breaks in aseptic technique.
Provides for proper care and handling of equipment, instruments, supplies and implants (E/I/S/I).
Understand the various surgical equipment and advanced surgical instrumentation in order to anticipate needs during surgery to improve the overall flow of the surgical procedure.
Competent in performance of delegated technical functions and clinical activities, in accordance with institutional policies.
Facilitate patient care with regard to the patient's condition and age.
High level of collaboration with peers in making decisions related to surgical patient care with responsibility over maintaining the sterile field and reporting incidence to surgeon
Percent of Time: 80% (32 hours per week)
Schedule: 0800-1630 Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday. (Wednesdays off)
Location: Pomerantz Family Pavilion
Merit Pay Plan: https://hr.uiowa.edu/pay/pay-plans/merit-pay-plan
Benefits Highlights: Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans. Relocation Assistant available to qualified applicants. https://hr.uiowa.edu/benefits
Required Qualifications:
- Satisfactory completion of a vocational or military course in surgical technology, or certification as a surgical technologist. (NBSTSA and NCCT) (Completion of an in-service training program for surgical technologists is acceptable).
- Two years of Surgical technologist experience.
Desired Qualifications:
- Ability to utilize existing resources and learning to achieve or exceed desired outcomes of current and future organizational goals/needs.
- Ability to demonstrate ethical behavior in situations while producing results.
- Ability to meet or exceed customer service needs and expectations and provide excellent service in a direct or indirect manner.
- Ability to effectively transmit and interpret information through appropriate communication with internal and external customers.
- Professional job-related experience fostering or promoting a welcoming and respectful work/academic environment where people of all backgrounds and perspectives feel welcomed and appreciated; or demonstrated the ability to do so.
Please attach a resume as part of the application process. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 10 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. For questions or additional information, please contact Nicole Olmstead at nicole-olmstead@uiowa.edu
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
- Classification Title: Surgical Technologist
- Appointment Type: Merit
- Schedule: Part-time
- Work Modality Options: On Campus
- Pay Level: 13
- Organization: Healthcare
- Contact Name: Nicole Olmstead
- Contact Email: nicole-olmstead@uiowa.edu
See All 47 Surgical Technologist Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Surgical Technologist JobsSurgical Technologist Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Surgical Technologist Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- The University of Iowa14
- MercyOne12
- FirstChoice5
- UnityPoint Health4
- American Traveler2
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in surgical technologist jobs across Iowa.
- Graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program required
- Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from NBSTSA preferred or required
- Active Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required before start date
- One or more years of scrub experience in an intraoperative setting preferred
- Demonstrated proficiency in sterile field maintenance and instrument passing
- Ability to work rotating shifts, call shifts, and weekends in a hospital setting
Surgical Technologist Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a surgical technologist in Iowa?
Iowa does not require a state-issued license for surgical technologists, but nearly all Iowa hospital employers require graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program and the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential issued by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. Community colleges such as Kirkwood Community College and Des Moines Area Community College offer accredited programs in Iowa. The CST exam is the practical threshold that moves candidates from eligible to hired in this state.
How much do surgical technologists make in Iowa?
Surgical technologists in Iowa earn a median of about $60,540 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $47,280 for the lowest 10% to over $75,100 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire surgical technologists in Iowa?
Employers hiring surgical technologists in Iowa right now include The University of Iowa, MercyOne, and FirstChoice, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Iowa's major health systems tend to post the most consistently across their hospital campuses and affiliated outpatient surgery centers throughout the state.
Which Iowa cities have the most surgical technologist jobs?
Iowa City, Mason City, and Davenport have the most surgical technologist openings in Iowa. Des Moines anchors the market as the state's largest metro with multiple major health system campuses, while Iowa City draws steady volume from University of Iowa Health Care, a large academic medical center that runs high-acuity surgical programs drawing candidates from across the region.
Are there remote surgical technologist jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. Surgical technology is a hands-on, intraoperative role that requires physical presence in the operating room, so fully remote positions are uncommon by nature. About 0% of surgical technologist openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and the roles that carry any flexibility are typically in surgical education, clinical coordination, or sterile processing supervision rather than direct scrub work.
How can I get hired as a surgical technologist in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-graduate hiring programs at large Iowa health systems such as UnityPoint Health or University of Iowa Health Care, both of which bring on new CST graduates and provide structured OR onboarding. Candidates who have worked as certified nursing assistants, sterile processing technicians, or surgical technologist students on clinical rotation are consistently prioritized. Holding an active CST credential and completing clinical hours in a high-volume Iowa facility before graduation gives applicants the clearest edge when competing for limited new-grad slots.
Where can I find and apply to surgical technologist jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to surgical technologist jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings across hospital systems, surgery centers, and specialty practices. Search the listings, find the roles that match your credentials and location, and apply directly through each posting.
See All 47 Surgical Technologist Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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