| Weekly pay | Up to $2,800 on a 12x3 schedule, one of the strongest surgical tech rates on our board |
|---|---|
| Credential | CST certification preferred or required by most facilities. No separate Montana state license is required. |
| Shifts | Varied shifts available |
| The real story | A small resident workforce and full surgical schedules push Montana rates above many coastal markets |
| Extras | Weekly pay and a dedicated recruiter. Stipend details vary by contract; your recruiter breaks down every package. Call (866) 680-2920. |
| Pay updated | June 2026 |
Most people assume the big-money surgical tech contracts are on the coasts. Montana quietly proves otherwise. Our current Montana surgical tech contracts reach $2,800 a week, one of the strongest rates on our entire board, and the reason is supply and distance. Montana has a small resident surgical tech workforce, its regional referral centers run full operating schedules, and persuading techs to relocate permanently to a rural state is genuinely hard. Facilities solve that the only way they can: by paying travelers well. Set that $2,800 against the national median for the profession, around $62,830 a year per BLS data, and a single strong Montana contract can out-earn a staff year in many states.
This is the kind of market savvy travelers look for: high pay driven by genuine need rather than a high cost of living you have to claw back. Montana's living costs are modest, so more of that strong rate actually stays with you.
$2,800
Max Weekly Pay
No License
State Level
Low COL
More Stays With You
Montana does not license or register surgical technologists at the state level (AST state-law overview), so the credential that matters is your CST certification from the NBSTSA plus documented experience in your service lines. With no state licensing step between you and the OR, starts here move quickly once facility credentialing clears. Confirm any facility-specific requirements with your recruiter.
Your package pairs a taxable hourly wage with tax-free housing and meal stipends following GSA rates for travelers who keep a qualifying tax home. Montana's income tax is graduated with a top rate near 5.9%, applied only to your taxable base.
Taxable Base Rate
Competitive hourly wage
Housing Stipend
Tax-free, GSA-based rates
Meal Stipend
Tax-free daily allowance
Weekly Pay
Transparent breakdown every week
$2,800
Max Weekly Pay
~5.9%
Top State Tax
12x3
Schedule
As a travel surgical technologist with We Care Staffing, you prepare the sterile field, set up instruments, anticipate the surgeon's needs, pass instruments, maintain sterility, and help account for every item before closing. Montana's regional referral centers run broad surgical schedules, so versatility across general, orthopedic, and OB cases is valued. Tell your recruiter your service lines and you will be matched accordingly.
We Care Staffing places surgical technologists across Montana's regional referral centers and its critical-access and community hospitals. Demand concentrates around Billings, Missoula, and Bozeman, with steady needs in the smaller rural facilities that depend most on travelers.
"As a new grad, I was nervous, but We-Care supported me. They landed me my first job in a supportive environment. Thank you!"
Brandon Lee
RN
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