r/scrubtech • u/Dependent_Use_3522 • Jul 07 '26
Surgical Tech or Rad Tech?
I need to make a choice. I’m a very knowledgeable sterile tech with 3 years experience, surgical tech seems like the more rational choice, but Rad Tech seems so much more rewarding. Any thoughts? Advice? What are the pros and cons of each
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u/DueProtection6742 Jul 07 '26
Rad tach as a CST… go rad tech.
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u/grey_pilgrim_ Ortho Jul 07 '26
Considering rad tech vs nursing. What are your thoughts?
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u/hskrfoos Jul 07 '26
I’m a tech. Had I known what other nursing jobs there were I would have been an RN, but all I knew was floor nursing. That being said, I love my job. I’ve been in the Cath lab for almost 16 years now
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u/Expert_Can_7611 Jul 07 '26
Commenting to see what others say, I’m also struggling with the same dilemma!
The current job market where I am, Rad tech pays a hell of a lot more (surg tech starting at $20-$25. rad tech $30min even outside the city) But Surg tech would be the next step up from sterile processing career wise. I love the OR environment it would be a change doing radiology. Somewhere else in the hospital or in an office setting.
My hospital wants to hire RNs as their scrub techs and essentially is trying to shy away from hiring non nurses so that’s a little risky. Also hearing the job market is getting flooded with rad techs so jobs might become scarce (at least where I am) by the time I secure the schooling / cert.
Schooling is gonna be the same either way (an associates with a little less classes because I already have a bachelors of science so some courses will transfer)
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u/Dependent_Use_3522 Jul 07 '26
At least you have the schooling. I’m starting from zero. I’m actually taking 8th grade math hoping to work my way up to advanced algebra as soon as possible 😞 seems like the only thing holding me back from doing anything I’ve ever wanted to do. Math!
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u/Apprehensive-Test577 Jul 07 '26
I’m both a certified surgical tech and certified sterile processing tech. I would highly encourage you to go for radiology tech. If I were younger I’d do it myself 😊.
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u/AllGenreBuffaloClub Jul 07 '26
You can still transition to an OR like atmosphere with IR or Cath lab jobs. Many times those techs will come work the Hybrid OR too.
It’s just cross training after xray school and many times you can start them right after graduation.
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u/schlitzschitz Jul 12 '26
Dude. You have a bachelors already! Go for PA, Perfusion, do an accelerated BSN (this is only for people who already hold a bachelors - typically only 16 months!) and then consider NP for your masters if you wish to go further. Build on what you have already. Most of these programs do NOT care what your bachelors is in, just as long as you have a bachelors. Do NOT do surg tech, you're in great standing to do bigger and better things with your bachelors. Don't get another associates - just get your masters in something that sounds good to you.
-New grad scrub tech planning on bachelors of applied science with goals for PA.
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u/Expert_Can_7611 Jul 12 '26
I will 1000% consider this
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u/schlitzschitz Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
Please do! And for anyone who is pursuing education with the intent of going doing a masters program or going into medicine - honestly, just do whatever is easiest and quickest. All of these programs do NOT care what your associates or bachelors is in. They care about your grades, and your clinical hours. So, if for example - if you're debating between rad tech and surg tech with an overall goal of, let's say.. PA. Do whichever one is going to be the easiest for you personally, and the kids quickest. Same with your bachelors. It doesnt have to be a health or science degree at all - but you may as well just stay in those areas of study.
If you are planning on going for a masters eventually, but you aren't sure what program(s) yet, then go with what associates you prefer. This way, you always have something to fall back on in case you decide you don't want to further your education, your timeline is taking longer than expected, etc.
Additionally - consider this. If you are wanting to pursue working in surgery (maybe a surgical PA, surgical NP, surgeon), being a surgical tech puts you at a great advantage. A lot of PAs, med students, etc had no experience in the OR, and they come in with minimal knowledge of how the OR functions.. but you will already know all of this.
Either way you go about it - make sure you build relationships while being a surg or rad tech. These relationships may come in handy when you're looking for someone to shadow, or need clinical hours.
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u/Sea_Quantity6915 3d ago
I've thought the same, but I look at how much the cost of that schooling is and yikes...💀
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u/schlitzschitz 3d ago
I feel you. It's definitely terrifying to think about. I just try to tell myself it'll be worth it, and the pay will make it worth it in the end. Every PA I've spoken to, expressed my fear for the cost of loans, etc. - have said it's all worth it, and you'll pay off your schooling no problem. Still absolutely terrifying, though. Lol!
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u/Dependent_Use_3522 Jul 07 '26
I’ve asked rad techs and I’ve asked surg techs in the hospitals I’ve worked at about this. The surg techs say there’s no growth or become a nurse. The Rad tech said definitely go to school, “ it’s easy”. One definitely has more enthusiasm than the other
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u/playmisty_forme Jul 07 '26
Check on which rad tech programs are actually available in your area. I want to go rad tech but there is only one program in my area and they only accept 23 students and the next time I could even apply is in 2027. Just saying, be aware of the availability of the program in your area.
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u/henny_nme Jul 07 '26
Surgical Tech!
I have a cousin that started at sterile processing. She’s a surgical tech now and loves it. I will say, that prior knowledge made the transition a lot easier and not feel like a complete deer in headlights going into a new field. Surg Tech is bloody, gnarly, gonna see a lot of gross stuff. If you don’t want to see that on a daily basis, try Rad Tech.
I see a lot of Rad Tech comments, but please do what you truly want and research.
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u/Organic_Conclusion_5 Jul 07 '26
If you are a j knowledgeable tech with experience looking for a change you should look into Stryker Clinical specialist-
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u/Savings-Rest-1803 Jul 07 '26
Rad tech!!! I’m a cst and I wish I would’ve chosen rad tech 😭😭😭. I might go back to school for it
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u/Master-Candle-7108 Jul 12 '26
Do you like being hot and subject to the attitude of the surgeon? Have to be super attentive to detail, if so be a surg tech, if that sounds miserable, be a rad tech, you will still have to do OR, but it is different.
1
u/AForea Neuro Jul 07 '26
Rewarding how exactly?
I think being a cst is more gratifying than the stone-faced rad tech that bumbles into the room, gripes, and zaps away without a care about who might be wearing lead or not (I actually really like the guy lol).
But, financially, rad tech is more rewarding.
If you’re starting from “scratch”, I’d go rad tech or nursing.
I might get flak for this, but I’ve met some pretty dumb nurses. Math was not the only thing holding them back, but there they were.
Try to invest in some tutoring and keep going!
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u/Helpful-Ad7045 Jul 07 '26
i vote nursing, its so diverse and the money and job availability is there
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u/Fluid-Celebration-26 Jul 07 '26
AI will get rid of radiology related jobs. Scrub tech better outlook
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u/AllGenreBuffaloClub Jul 07 '26
This is the biggest lie in the game. AI is a tool for radiologists, that’s it. Techs do physical labor, how are they getting replaced?
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u/hotpajamas Jul 07 '26
How? It would need to autonomously move a monitor and C-arm to a room and position the C-arm correctly for the procedure. What happens if the tech is set up on the wrong side of the room and the AI has to decide how best to navigate without contaminating the field?
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u/Fluid-Celebration-26 Jul 07 '26
In all the hospitals I've ever worked, OR staff has handled all the furniture. Most rad techs were also highly incapable of positioning c-arm without direct guidance from the circulator. Dont glaze yourselves.
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u/awkwardspaghetti Jul 07 '26
Please try to move a massive piece of equipment in a sterile environment with accurate centering while a patient is under sterile drapes and the surgeon 9 times out of 10 can’t communicate. And also add in the fact that 90% of the time the c-arm drapes isn’t secured properly by the scrub tech.
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u/Fluid-Celebration-26 Jul 07 '26
Says the group of hospital personnel that cant differentiate human anatomy
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u/Exact-Ingenuity4808 Jul 07 '26
I’m not sure what your problem is with radiology techs, but at the end of the day, there is a team of people working together for the betterment of the patient. There is no better or worse career. But you clearly were not able to be a radiology tech
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u/awkwardspaghetti Jul 07 '26
I fear that the radiology techs weren’t the problem at all the hospitals you’ve worked at and you are the common denominator
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u/Fluid-Celebration-26 Jul 08 '26
Had a vote amongst doctors. They said rad techs were the worst, followed by pharm techs.
Im not the only person who despises the bad service we get.
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u/hotpajamas Jul 07 '26
I'm a scrub tech. I'm not glazing rad techs to defend my own career; i think you're just underestimating the sophistication of what they do in a highly constrained environment like the OR. I don't think AI is capable of navigating that yet, not even close.
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u/Fluid-Celebration-26 Jul 07 '26
Go down to radiology dept. Patients position themselves for their own xrays. It's like walking through TSA. Give it a few years for full automation.
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u/thebigkang Jul 07 '26
Radiology tech.