How to become an Operating Theatre Technician
Prepares and maintains an operating theatre and its equipment, assists the surgical team during operations, and provides support to patients in the recovery room.
Main tasks
- Prepares operating theatre for surgical procedures, and cleans and sterilises operating theatre equipment and instruments
- Assists surgical team during operations by passing instruments and supplies
- Monitors and maintains sterile field during surgical procedures
- Handles specimens and prepares them for laboratory analysis
- Assists with positioning and transferring patients before and after surgery
- Provides support to patients in the recovery room, monitoring vital signs and assisting with post-operative care
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Certificate IV in Operating Theatre Technical Support (HLT47515); Diploma of Anaesthetic Technology and Practice (HLT57921); Diploma of Orthopaedic Technology (HLT57821); Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $80,028 a year
- About 41,900 people work in this job group now, and about 49,200 are projected by 2035. (+17.4%)
- AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Operating Theatre Technician?
Ways in include: Certificate IV in Operating Theatre Technical Support; Diploma of Anaesthetic Technology and Practice.
How much does an Operating Theatre Technician earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $80,028 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is an Operating Theatre Technician a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 17% by 2035, from about 41,900 to about 49,200 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become an Operating Theatre Technician?
Usually not. Only 19% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate IV in Operating Theatre Technical Support; Diploma of Anaesthetic Technology and Practice.
Will AI change the work of an Operating Theatre Technician?
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04