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Surgical technologist salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$81,310median pay per year in California, or $39.09 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $49,140lowest 10% earn less
  2. $64,38025th percentile
  3. $81,310median
  4. $99,26075th percentile
  5. $115,740top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $64,650[3]

Surgical technologists in California had a median pay of $81,310 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $16,660 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
11,920[4]
Rank by median pay
3 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+25.8%[6]

How much do surgical technologists make in California?

The median wage for surgical technologists in California was $81,310 a year, or $39.09 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. The average was a little higher at $82,810 a year[7].

Across the US as a whole, the median was $64,650[3]. California was 25.8% above that, a gap of $16,660[6]. The state also ranked 3rd highest for the median annual wage among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Compared with all jobs in California, whose median was $58,240[8], surgical technologists earned $23,070 more[9].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $49,140 a year[2]. At the high end, the top-paid 10% earned more than $115,740[2]. Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $106,840[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had a median of $99,390[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers, part time and full time. It leaves out the self-employed and business owners. It also does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for surgical technologists in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$81,310[1]$64,650[3]
Median per hour$39.09[1]$31.08[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$49,140[2]$45,940[13]
Top 10% earn more than$115,740[2]$96,940[13]
Jobs11,920[4]117,460[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for surgical technologists, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$81,5803,440
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$99,3901,440
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$77,4901,190
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$82,2601,110
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$65,9801,020
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$106,840700
Fresno, CA$64,380520
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$78,470240

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for surgical technologists in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$81,3901,090
Nevada$75,4801,110
Arizona$72,2602,410

Median pay for surgical technologists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for surgical technologists are projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: postsecondary nondegree award[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a surgical technologist make in California?
The median was $81,310 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $82,810 a year[7].
How much does a surgical technologist make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $39.09[1]. The 10th percentile was $23.63 an hour and the 90th percentile was $55.64[17].
Which city in California pays surgical technologists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median annual wage, $106,840, among the metro areas with a published median[10].
Is California a good state for surgical technologists?
California had the 3rd highest median annual wage for this job among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $16,660 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a surgical technologist in California?
This is a US figure, not specific to California. Across the US, the typical entry education is a postsecondary nondegree award, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training typically needed[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Surgical Technologists in California was $81,310 per year and $39.09 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Surgical Technologists in California: 10th percentile $49,140, 25th percentile $64,380, 75th percentile $99,260, 90th percentile $115,740. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Surgical Technologists in the US as a whole was $64,650 per year and $31.08 per hour, with about 117,460 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 11,920 people worked as Surgical Technologists in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 3rd highest median annual wage for Surgical Technologists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Surgical Technologists in California ($81,310) was $16,660 (25.8%) higher than the US median ($64,650). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Surgical Technologists in California was $82,810 per year and $39.81 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Surgical Technologists in California was $23,070 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 21 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Surgical Technologists, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $106,840. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Surgical Technologists in the US: 10th percentile $45,940, 25th percentile $54,690, 75th percentile $79,750, 90th percentile $96,940. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Surgical Technologists in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $81,390; Nevada $75,480; Arizona $72,260. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Surgical Technologists is projected to grow 5% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 7,100 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Surgical Technologists: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Surgical Technologists in California: 10th percentile $23.63, 25th percentile $30.95, 75th percentile $47.72, 90th percentile $55.64. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.