More About Surgical Technologists
High-End Earners (Top 10%)
$82,068 annually
Median Earners (Top 50%)
$76,636 annually
Education Required
Postsecondary nondegree award
(Source: InterLink 2026 Data, Surgical Technologists)
CTE Pathway
Health Informatics Statewide Program of Study
Take courses like Principles of Health Science, Medical Terminology and Health Science Theory.
See here for the full breakdown of the courses you can take in Health Informatics.
Sayedi Ali always knew she would enter the healthcare field, though her exact path was initially unclear.
“As a first-generation college student, healthcare worker and immigrant, navigating school and career options was challenging because I was figuring it out on my own,” Sayeda said.
While she initially considered becoming an OB-GYN, she ultimately became a certified surgical technologist (CST)—a role she hadn't known existed. Today, she is in nursing school to become a registered nurse.
“My plan changed for several reasons, but a major influence was working at large hospitals in Fort Worth, including Cook Children's Health Care System, Baylor All Saints, Texas Health and JPS Health Network,” Sayeda said. "Being in these environments allowed me to shadow professionals across various roles."
Finances also played a significant role in Sayeda’s decision. She needed a career trajectory that prioritized financial independence while simultaneously providing a stable foundation for her professional aspirations. In high school, she worked multiple jobs in retail and fast food to support her family and contribute to household expenses. The professional exposure solidified her foundation, while her relentless drive established a cost-effective path toward her ultimate career objectives.
BEST IN CLASS AWARD GRANT
Megan Thee Stallion, Hot Girl Productions and the Pete & Thomas Foundation have collaborated to create a scholarship opportunity for students navigating financial hardships, limited resources and an ever-changing workforce.
Students and teachers are awarded $5,000 through the “Best in Class” award grant, and Sayeda Ali is one of them!
More celebrity-backed scholarships include:
The Shawn Carter Foundation
Founded by Jay-Z
The John Lennon Scholarship
Founded by Yoko Ono
Creative Courage Scholarship
Founded by Terry Crews
Open Door Scholarship
Founded by Alicia Keys
Michael and Juanita Jordan Scholarship
Mister Rogers Memorial Scholarship
Oprah Winfrey Endowed Scholarship Fund
“Not everyone has the privilege of attending a four-year university immediately,” Sayeda said. “Becoming a CST through a community college is an affordable, efficient way to start a healthcare career. The ability to work three 12-hour shifts per week provides flexibility, work-life balance and financial stability while pursuing further education.”
The pathway from a CST to a registered nurse (RN) offers Sayeda a stable lifestyle that more oversaturated fields, like general biology or psychology, often cannot provide. This route allowed her to enter the workforce quickly and utilize hands-on skills.
“Being a CST allows me to use critical thinking, manual dexterity and clinical judgment—skills that will continue to support me as I advance,” Sayeda said.
Thanks to her self-forged path, Sayeda was able to apply for the Megan Thee Stallion's "Best in Class" Award Grant, and was awarded with the scholarship. Due to her financial mindfulness and hard work, Sayeda is on a straight path to becoming a registered nurse.
“Choose something you're passionate about and remember that your path does not have to look like everyone else's,” Sayeda said. “It's okay to take a different route, move at your own pace, and change directions along the way.”
WHERE TO LEARN
Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, Farmers Branch
Dallas College Downtown Health Sciences Center
Dallas College El Centro Campus, Dallas
Hill College
Hill College - Burleson
Hill College - Cleburne
Hill College - Hillsboro
Tarrant County College
Texas Woman's University
UNT Health Fort Worth
Weatherford College
WHERE TO WORK
Cook Children's Health Care System
Hill College
Hill College - Burleson
Hill College - Cleburne
Hill College - Hillsboro
