PayByState

California · BLS SOC 29-2055

Surgical Technologist salary in California

Median $73,940 · Top 10% earn $106,620+ · Roughly 12,956 workers in California. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

California median
$73,940
$35.55/hr
Top 10%
$106,620
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$48,620
Entry-level range
Real pay
$64,974
CoL-adjusted (RPP 113.8)

California pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for surgical technologists — $73,940 versus the national median of $60,610. After adjusting for California's high cost of living, the pay edge narrows to about $4,364 above U.S. average buying power. The state employs roughly 12,956 surgical technologists.

What drives surgical technologist pay in California

California pays the highest surgical tech wages in the U.S., driven by Title 22 staffing rules (require specific tech-to-OR ratios), strong hospital union density (SEIU-UHW, NUHW, CNA), and Kaiser Permanente alone employing ~10,000 surgical staff under contracts that set the regional floor.

Top-paying metros in California

California-area metropolitan areas with the highest surgical technologist medians.

California metros

10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.

Rank Metro Median
1 San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA $92,800
2 Vallejo, CA $96,100
3 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $87,300
4 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $79,100

California ranks #1 of 50 states

Where California sits in the national distribution for surgical technologist pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank State Median vs. California
#1 California (this page) $73,940 —
#3 Alaska $73,340 −$600
#4 District of Columbia $73,340 −$600
#5 New York $72,730 −$1,210
See all 50 states →

Find Surgical Technologist programs near you

We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.

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Education path for California

The typical path is a postsecondary nondegree certificate (1–2 yr program), taking about 18 months. Tuition ranges from $5,000 (community college) to $28,000 (private accelerated). On the California median of $73,940, payback periods are typically 0.7 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.

For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Surgical Technologist salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with California selected.

Surgical Technologist salary in California — FAQ

What is the average surgical technologist salary in California?
The median surgical technologist salary in California is $73,940 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $48,620; the top 10% earn $106,620 or more. About 12,956 people work in this role across the state.
How does California surgical technologist pay compare to the national average?
California's median of $73,940 is $13,330 above the U.S. national median of $60,610. After adjusting for California's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 113.8), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $64,974.
Where does California pay surgical technologists the most?
Top-paying metros in California include San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley at $92,800, Vallejo at $96,100, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom at $87,300. These metros consistently pay 10–25% above the state median due to higher concentration of large hospital systems and specialty employers.
Is surgical technologist a good career in California?
On the data: California employs roughly 12,956 surgical technologists, with a median wage of $73,940 and the top decile clearing $106,620. The role is projected to grow +5% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.
What's the hourly rate for surgical technologists in California?
At the California median of $73,940 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $35.55/hr. The top 10% earn around $51.26/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $23.38/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

California-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 29-2055: Surgical Technologists), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where California's RPP is 113.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.