Surgical Technologist Salary in California: $87,393 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median surgical technologist pay sits at $87,393/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2055. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $77,271 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($109,349), Santa Clara ($108,631), San Jose ($106,840).

Surgical Technologist Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California surgical technologist salary overview (2026)

$87,393

Avg Median Salary

$42.02

Avg Hourly Rate

14,229

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In 2026, surgical technologists in California are projected to earn an average median salary of $87,393, which is significantly higher than the national median of $68,141, representing a difference of +28.3%. The gap between the highest paying city, Sunnyvale, at $115,254, and the lowest, Visalia, at $64,579, reflects the varying cost of living and demand for healthcare services in those areas. Factors such as the proximity to advanced medical facilities, the state licensing requirements, and a broader scope of practice can influence these salary disparities. California’s job market for surgical technologists is expected to remain strong, with a projected annual growth rate of 5.40%. As healthcare continues to expand and adapt, the demand for surgical technologists is driven by a combination of increasing surgical procedures and the need for trained personnel in hospital environments. Key cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, Vallejo, and Napa offer competitive salaries ranging from $108,024 to $114,497, attracting talent to these healthcare hubs. Understanding these dynamics can help aspiring surgical technologists make informed decisions about their career paths in California.

California Surgical Technologist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$58,181

avg across 157 cities

Median

$87,393

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$117,791

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $45,206 (lowest entry-level) to $177,469 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$87,393

National Median

$68,141

California surgical technologists earn 28.25% more than the national median (+$19,252/year difference).

California Surgical Technologist Salary Distribution (2026)

Surgical Technologist salaries in California range from $58,181 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $117,791 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $87,393. The California median is $19,252 above the US national median of $68,141. The average hourly rate is $42.02/hr. Approximately 14,229 surgical technologists are employed across 157 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$63,024

2025 BLS Actual

$82,916

2026 Current Est.

$87,393

2019–2027 Growth

+46.2%

Salary Trajectory for Surgical Technologists in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.40% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$63,024	Actual
2020	$65,320	Actual
2021	$71,802	Actual
2022	$71,750	Actual
2023	$76,564	Actual
2024	$86,053	Actual
2025	$82,916	Actual
2026(current)	$87,393	Estimated
2027	$92,113	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median surgical technologist salary grew 31.6% from $63,024 (2019) to $82,916 (2025). At a 5.40% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $92,113 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,089 (46.16%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.40% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $55.41/hr

$115,254

+31.88% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $55.05/hr

$114,497

+31.01% vs avg

San Jose

700 employed · $54.14/hr

$112,609

+28.85% vs avg

Vallejo

100 employed · $53.34/hr

$110,944

+26.95% vs avg

Napa

60 employed · $51.93/hr

$108,024

+23.61% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Visalia	$64,579	-26.11%	$31.05
Fresno	$67,857	-22.35%	$32.62
Roseville	$69,256	-20.75%	$33.30
Sacramento	$69,543	-20.42%	$33.43
Folsom	$70,013	-19.89%	$33.66

Best Value Cities for Surgical Technologists in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for surgical technologists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Vallejo	$110,944	108.479	$102,272
San Jose	$112,609	110.423	$101,980
Sunnyvale	$115,254	113.1	$101,905
Santa Clara	$114,497	113.1	$101,235
Santa Rosa	$105,358	107.784	$97,749

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$58,181	$27.97	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$87,393	$42.02	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$117,791	$56.63	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$115,254	$55.41	$80,431	$177,469	26
2	Santa Clara	$114,497	$55.05	$78,696	$170,474	32
3	San Jose	$112,609	$54.14	$81,833	$140,688	700
4	Vallejo	$110,944	$53.34	$68,067	$133,025	100
5	Napa	$108,024	$51.93	$79,419	$136,156	60
6	Oakland	$107,141	$51.51	$72,515	$166,069	78
7	Santa Cruz	$105,537	$50.74	$68,784	$137,526	80
8	Santa Rosa	$105,358	$50.66	$64,789	$127,545	120
9	Fremont	$104,778	$50.37	$67,314	$162,407	43
10	San Francisco	$104,757	$50.37	$65,949	$130,201	1,440
11	Petaluma	$104,350	$50.17	$77,110	$157,262	12
12	Redding	$94,797	$45.57	$53,164	$108,267	80
13	Santa Ana	$90,155	$43.34	$59,051	$139,740	69
14	Fontana	$88,486	$42.54	$58,034	$137,154	32
15	Irvine	$88,389	$42.50	$61,710	$137,004	72
16	Pomona	$87,958	$42.29	$61,029	$132,166	36
17	Simi Valley	$87,910	$42.27	$61,183	$135,034	23
18	Escondido	$87,890	$42.25	$61,224	$131,691	31
19	Fairfield	$87,732	$42.18	$60,773	$131,124	25
20	Anaheim	$87,516	$42.08	$58,485	$135,650	51
21	Fullerton	$87,408	$42.02	$59,769	$133,451	25
22	Daly City	$87,332	$41.99	$59,597	$129,929	20
23	El Monte	$87,305	$41.97	$59,885	$133,079	20
24	Vista	$87,256	$41.95	$59,776	$132,679	24
25	Concord	$87,236	$41.94	$59,729	$132,832	29
26	Clovis	$87,106	$41.88	$59,432	$128,895	19
27	Garden Grove	$87,016	$41.83	$58,880	$132,043	37
28	Temecula	$86,996	$41.82	$59,182	$128,732	25
29	Santa Clarita	$86,937	$41.80	$61,045	$134,753	41
30	Lancaster	$86,824	$41.74	$58,793	$134,578	40
31	Inglewood	$86,824	$41.74	$58,793	$134,578	21
32	Chula Vista	$86,802	$41.73	$55,553	$133,522	51
33	Stockton	$86,744	$41.71	$54,808	$119,724	170
34	Corona	$86,714	$41.69	$58,457	$134,406	24
35	San Diego	$86,702	$41.69	$65,664	$106,907	1,110
36	Richmond	$86,700	$41.69	$58,165	$130,912	25
37	Rialto	$86,659	$41.66	$58,420	$130,766	17
38	Torrance	$86,549	$41.61	$57,825	$134,151	26
39	Elk Grove	$86,384	$41.53	$57,714	$129,561	25
40	Oceanside	$86,363	$41.52	$57,668	$129,430	28
41	Whittier	$86,337	$41.51	$61,655	$127,215	22
42	San Rafael	$86,331	$41.51	$61,550	$127,137	11
43	Long Beach	$86,271	$41.47	$55,835	$133,720	89
44	Rancho Cucamonga	$86,253	$41.46	$57,421	$129,097	46
45	Hayward	$86,205	$41.44	$57,313	$133,617	23
46	Woodland	$86,182	$41.43	$61,203	$129,813	15
47	Buena Park	$86,170	$41.43	$61,260	$126,844	20
48	Encinitas	$86,162	$41.42	$61,243	$126,598	16
49	Downey	$86,157	$41.42	$56,947	$133,544	22
50	Dublin	$86,109	$41.40	$61,117	$126,630	14
51	Redlands	$86,081	$41.38	$61,053	$129,675	16
52	Chino	$86,035	$41.36	$60,855	$126,149	17
53	Westminster	$86,007	$41.35	$60,528	$129,412	21
54	Santa Monica	$86,001	$41.35	$60,776	$126,031	20
55	San Mateo	$85,992	$41.34	$56,837	$133,287	21
56	Los Angeles	$85,985	$41.34	$52,964	$107,519	3,440
57	Carlsbad	$85,977	$41.34	$62,103	$132,374	23
58	Tulare	$85,967	$41.33	$60,698	$125,913	17
59	San Buenaventura	$85,937	$41.32	$63,196	$133,202	19
60	Mission Viejo	$85,880	$41.29	$60,581	$125,825	23
61	Moreno Valley	$85,879	$41.29	$59,057	$133,112	53
62	Pleasanton	$85,866	$41.29	$60,549	$128,691	16
63	Pasadena	$85,744	$41.22	$60,644	$132,855	35
64	Santee	$85,684	$41.19	$60,124	$125,141	9
65	Glendale	$85,607	$41.16	$62,438	$132,587	36
66	Mountain View	$85,563	$41.14	$59,842	$124,718	13
67	Pittsburg	$85,556	$41.14	$59,476	$127,815	19
68	Lodi	$85,547	$41.13	$62,546	$127,925	14
69	Novato	$85,529	$41.12	$59,676	$124,381	11
70	Costa Mesa	$85,497	$41.11	$60,083	$132,194	23
71	Berkeley	$85,408	$41.06	$61,982	$126,341	23
72	Huntington Beach	$85,387	$41.05	$62,191	$132,350	50
73	Jurupa Valley	$85,311	$41.01	$62,018	$131,306	24
74	Hemet	$85,287	$41.00	$59,201	$123,755	14
75	Union City	$85,280	$41.00	$59,186	$123,733	11
76	West Covina	$85,270	$40.99	$61,925	$131,104	25
77	Chino Hills	$85,246	$40.98	$59,021	$126,494	21
78	Gilroy	$85,124	$40.93	$58,827	$131,706	10
79	San Luis Obispo	$85,089	$40.91	$47,651	$113,126	100
80	San Marcos	$85,078	$40.91	$58,371	$131,539	17
81	Tustin	$85,003	$40.86	$58,200	$125,874	18
82	San Ramon	$84,997	$40.86	$58,533	$125,634	19
83	Eastvale	$84,916	$40.82	$58,346	$125,350	10
84	Murrieta	$84,912	$40.82	$61,196	$129,890	25
85	Vacaville	$84,912	$40.82	$61,196	$131,614	15
86	Brentwood	$84,875	$40.80	$58,254	$130,818	13
87	Hesperia	$84,835	$40.79	$58,161	$130,675	14
88	Lake Elsinore	$84,828	$40.78	$58,145	$130,434	18
89	Citrus Heights	$84,721	$40.73	$57,897	$124,886	19
90	El Cajon	$84,645	$40.69	$57,827	$129,162	18
91	San Clemente	$84,619	$40.68	$57,579	$129,693	10
92	Bellflower	$84,586	$40.66	$57,588	$129,790	11
93	Palmdale	$84,548	$40.65	$60,286	$131,049	29
94	La Mirada	$84,548	$40.65	$62,076	$120,748	10
95	Apple Valley	$84,532	$40.64	$57,466	$124,014	19
96	Menifee	$84,507	$40.63	$60,277	$128,677	20
97	Yucaipa	$84,471	$40.61	$57,327	$129,384	14
98	Norwalk	$84,465	$40.61	$60,100	$128,310	22
99	Yuba City	$84,431	$40.59	$57,234	$123,879	10
100	Rancho Cordova	$84,391	$40.57	$57,143	$128,883	20
101	Oxnard	$84,383	$40.57	$56,610	$128,072	200
102	Montebello	$84,309	$40.54	$56,958	$128,813	16
103	Compton	$84,276	$40.52	$56,796	$123,125	25
104	Modesto	$84,267	$40.52	$52,942	$108,551	120
105	Porterville	$84,215	$40.48	$56,743	$123,130	11
106	Lompoc	$84,204	$40.48	$61,335	$119,578	8
107	Hawthorne	$84,073	$40.42	$56,423	$122,641	13
108	Antioch	$84,046	$40.41	$59,158	$129,963	17
109	Thousand Oaks	$84,043	$40.41	$61,614	$130,137	32
110	Burbank	$84,040	$40.40	$56,486	$127,032	22
111	Alhambra	$83,845	$40.30	$62,612	$127,177	13
112	Livermore	$83,845	$40.30	$59,821	$127,177	21
113	Orange	$83,819	$40.29	$58,735	$126,262	21
114	South Gate	$83,817	$40.29	$62,205	$127,082	25
115	Victorville	$83,798	$40.28	$58,689	$125,970	30
116	West Sacramento	$83,770	$40.27	$62,094	$126,916	9
117	Poway	$83,749	$40.26	$60,241	$118,243	8
118	San Leandro	$83,635	$40.21	$62,037	$129,282	23
119	Indio	$83,541	$40.17	$61,561	$126,115	23
120	Lake Forest	$83,541	$40.17	$61,561	$126,115	14
121	Carson	$83,392	$40.09	$61,559	$128,640	21
122	Rocklin	$83,379	$40.08	$61,527	$128,591	10
123	Newport Beach	$83,238	$40.02	$61,199	$125,058	12
124	Redwood City	$83,231	$40.01	$61,098	$124,768	13
125	Turlock	$83,211	$40.01	$61,052	$127,787	17
126	Manteca	$83,184	$39.99	$61,074	$124,871	13
127	Perris	$83,177	$39.99	$60,719	$124,847	12
128	Madera	$83,110	$39.96	$60,903	$124,400	8
129	Baldwin Park	$82,961	$39.88	$60,475	$123,886	19
130	Palo Alto	$82,961	$39.88	$60,561	$127,125	15
131	Lakewood	$82,928	$39.87	$60,483	$123,982	19
132	Ontario	$82,776	$39.80	$56,467	$125,771	42
133	Hanford	$82,759	$39.79	$60,011	$123,134	10
134	Santa Maria	$82,750	$39.79	$52,405	$113,294	170
135	Bakersfield	$82,707	$39.76	$53,469	$99,361	240
136	Beaumont	$82,685	$39.76	$59,587	$123,143	9
137	Merced	$82,672	$39.75	$57,482	$123,097	20
138	Tracy	$82,665	$39.75	$59,879	$122,862	14
139	Alameda	$82,638	$39.73	$59,817	$125,783	12
140	Laguna Niguel	$82,618	$39.73	$59,432	$125,925	16
141	Milpitas	$82,578	$39.70	$59,679	$125,573	16
142	Camarillo	$82,402	$39.62	$59,277	$122,167	13
143	Oakley	$82,368	$39.60	$56,976	$121,611	8
144	Davis	$82,348	$39.59	$59,069	$121,718	14
145	Upland	$82,288	$39.56	$58,678	$124,777	18
146	Chico	$82,265	$39.56	$51,498	$105,727	90
147	La Habra	$82,167	$39.50	$58,655	$124,093	16
148	Lynwood	$82,133	$39.48	$58,662	$121,243	16
149	San Bernardino	$81,776	$39.31	$52,665	$126,752	33
150	Riverside	$81,674	$39.27	$52,531	$103,471	1,190
151	Brea	$80,731	$38.81	$59,776	$118,744	10
152	Salinas	$76,710	$36.88	$62,355	$104,209	120
153	Folsom	$70,013	$33.66	$47,677	$103,352	17
154	Sacramento	$69,543	$33.43	$48,231	$126,438	1,020
155	Roseville	$69,256	$33.30	$50,694	$107,037	35
156	Fresno	$67,857	$32.62	$49,422	$90,265	520
157	Visalia	$64,579	$31.05	$45,206	$83,593	110

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore surgical technologist hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new surgical technologists.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced surgical technologists.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →San Jose →

Compare Cities in California

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View all comparisons →

Explore More Surgical Technologist Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do surgical technologists make in California in 2026?

The average median surgical technologist salary in California is $87,393/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $64,579 in Visalia to $115,254 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 28.25% above the national median of $68,141. The state employs approximately 14,229 surgical technologists.

What is the highest paying city for surgical technologists in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest surgical technologist salary in California at $115,254/year ($55.41/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($115,254), Santa Clara ($114,497), San Jose ($112,609). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for surgical services services, and competition among employers for licensed surgical technologists.

How does California surgical technologist pay compare to the national average?

California's average surgical technologist salary of $87,393 is 28.25% above the national median of $68,141 in 2026. The state employs approximately 14,229 surgical technologists across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level surgical technologist salary in California?

Entry-level surgical technologists (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $58,181/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $45,206 in lower-paying areas to $81,833 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many surgical technologists are employed in California?

California employs approximately 14,229 surgical technologists across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of surgical technologists nationally. Demand continues to grow as the surgical services field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for surgical technologists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Vallejo offers the highest purchasing power for surgical technologists in California, with an adjusted salary of $102,272 (nominal: $110,944, CoL index: 108.479). This means your dollar goes 8% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Jessica Thompson, BA, CST

Career Analyst

Jessica has over 10 years of experience as a surgical technologist. She specializes in orthopedic surgical procedures. Jessica works at a community hospital.

Clinically reviewed by Carlos Ramirez, AAS, CSTData verified by Fatima Ali, BS, CST

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.40% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 surgical technologist compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more surgical technologistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.40%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for surgical technologists (SOC 29-2055).

Compiled and verified by Jessica Thompson, BA, CST, a licensed surgical technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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