Side Hustles for Surgical Techs: Turn Your Experience Into Income
When we talk about side hustles for surgical techs, picking up another shift often comes to mind. But what if you want additional income without spending even more time in the operating room?
That’s something I’ve been thinking about for myself.
After more than 20 years in the surgical field, I still have experience to share. However, I don’t always want to go to a hospital or surgery center to earn money. As I get older, I’m thinking more about how I want to spend my time.
In my recent live, I shared how I’m using YouTube, my website, affiliate marketing, and digital products to build income outside the OR.
This isn’t something I figured out overnight, y’all. I’ve made mistakes, taken some losses, and learned along the way. But I want to introduce you to possibilities you may not have considered.
Your Surgical Experience Can Help Someone Else
Think about everything you’ve learned throughout your career.
You know things a student is trying to understand. You’ve experienced situations a new surgical tech hasn’t faced yet. You may have advice about preparing for a first job, negotiating pay, or deciding whether to travel.
That experience can become helpful content.
For example, you could answer questions like:
- What should a new surgical tech ask during an interview?
- What shoes have you found comfortable during long shifts?
- What do you wish you knew before your first travel assignment?
- How do the surgical tech and first assistant roles differ?
You don’t have to know everything. Start with something you understand and can explain honestly.
Although I’m talking mainly to surgical techs, these ideas can also apply to surgical first assistants and OR nurses.
Side Hustles for Surgical Techs: Create Helpful YouTube Content
YouTube is one of the ways I share my experience beyond the operating room.
Here’s an example. One of my most-viewed videos was something I recorded in my car on a lunch break. Years later, that video still earns money.
Now, let me be clear: I’m not saying that one video pays all my bills. It doesn’t. But I created it once, and people can still find it.
That possibility is what interests me.
Instead of only asking, “What can I post today?” I think about what people are searching for. What question can I answer? What experience could help someone make a decision?
You could start with your phone and one question you hear often. You don’t need to turn it into a whole production before you begin.
For me, this is a long-term process. I want to create useful videos that people can continue finding.
Use a Website to Bring Your Content Together
My Surgical Tech Career website gives me a place to bring my videos, written content, resources, and products together.
During the live, I showed some of that process. And yes, there was some figuring things out as I went. That’s part of learning.
A website can give someone more than a short social media post. You can explain a topic, share a video, and point readers toward a relevant resource.
For example, a video about preparing for your first surgical tech job could become a blog post. That post could include a checklist or a guide you created.
You don’t need every page to look perfect before you start. However, readers should be able to understand the information and find what they need.
The goal for my website is to be useful to the surgical community. I want people to leave with something that helps them.
Affiliate Marketing for Surgical Techs and First Assistants
Affiliate marketing is another income option I discussed in the live.
In simple terms, you share a tracked link to a product or service. If someone makes a qualifying purchase or takes another qualifying action through that link, you may earn a commission.
Think about products you already discuss with coworkers:
- Shoes and compression socks.
- Lunch bags and food containers.
- Books you found helpful.
- Products that make your workday more comfortable.
You may already have opinions about these things because you use them.
The content could explain why you chose a product, what you like, and what someone should consider before buying it. Then you can share an affiliate link when one is available.
I used Amazon as an example in the live. You can review the current details on the Amazon Associates website, since program terms and commissions can change.
Be clear when you may earn a commission. Also, keep your recommendations honest. A product should make sense for your audience, regardless of whether you have a link for it.
Turn Your Knowledge Into a Digital Product
You can also create something of your own.
In the live, I showed an ebook I created for the surgical tech community. That’s one example of taking information you’ve learned and organizing it into a resource.
Other possibilities include:
- A first-job interview workbook.
- A travel assignment planning checklist.
- A career reflection journal.
- A guide to questions you should ask before accepting a position.
Start with a specific problem you can help someone work through.
You don’t have to create a huge course right away. A smaller, useful resource can give you a place to begin.
Ask yourself: What would have helped me when I was at that stage of my career?
Then think about how you could make that information clear and practical for someone else.
Build a Way to Stay Connected With Your Audience
I also talked about email during the live.
When someone follows you on social media, that doesn’t automatically give you a way to contact them outside that platform. If you lose access to your account, reaching those people can become difficult.
An email list gives interested readers another way to hear from you when they choose to sign up.
For example, you could send a new blog post, a useful video, or an update about a resource you’ve created.
You’re building a relationship over time. Every message doesn’t need to be a sales pitch.
These Side Hustles Take Time to Build
I want to be honest about this part.
I’ve been posting on YouTube for more than 10 years. I’ve also been working, learning, making mistakes, and trying to become more consistent.
Sometimes I held back from sharing because I felt like I didn’t know enough yet. There are still things I’m learning.
But I can share my experience without pretending I have every answer.
These side hustles for surgical techs require effort. Creating content, building trust, and making useful resources all take time. Some ideas may work better than others.
That’s why I don’t want you to hear this as a promise that you can post a few videos and immediately replace your paycheck.
I’m sharing what I’m building because I know other surgical professionals want more options, too.
Start With One Question You Can Answer
If you’re interested in building income outside the OR, start with one helpful piece of content.
Choose a question someone in your community asks. Record your answer or write it down. Use your own experience to make it useful.
Then consider the next step. Would a related product help? Could you create a checklist? Is there more to explain in a longer video?
You can build from there.
For me, the bigger goal is having more choices about how I use my time and experience. I want other surgical professionals to see those possibilities for themselves.
Watch the full live for my walkthrough of how I’m using content, a website, and affiliate marketing together.
What’s one thing you’ve learned in your surgical career that could help someone else? Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear what you would share.