California Median
$81,310
per year
Hourly Rate
$39.09
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+26% vs US median
US median $64,650
State Rank
#3 of 51
11,920 employed here
How much does a Surgical Technologist make in California?
A Surgical Technologist working in California earns a median salary of $81,310 per year, or about $39.09 per hour. That is 26% above the national median of $64,650 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $49,140 while the top 10% make $115,740 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $64,380 and $99,260 a year.
Surgical Technologist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,140 | $23.63 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $64,380 | $30.95 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $81,310 | $39.09 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $99,260 | $47.72 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,740 | $55.64 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories for Surgical Technologist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Surgical Technologist salary in other states
Hawaii $82,640Oregon $81,390Massachusetts $80,870Alaska $80,380Minnesota $80,210Connecticut $79,890New York $79,550District of Columbia $77,520Washington $77,270New Jersey $77,200Colorado $75,740Nevada $75,480New Hampshire $75,040Rhode Island $74,130Wisconsin $74,120Idaho $72,550Arizona $72,260Maryland $68,970Virginia $67,580Texas $65,220Illinois $64,650Indiana $64,240Georgia $64,010Nebraska $63,880Michigan $63,320Maine $62,860Utah $62,720Pennsylvania $62,680Florida $62,440Ohio $62,420Delaware $62,250South Carolina $62,160North Dakota $61,640Oklahoma $61,190Missouri $61,120Montana $60,970North Carolina $60,920Vermont $60,660Kansas $60,600Iowa $60,540Tennessee $60,530Kentucky $60,490South Dakota $59,870Wyoming $58,850Arkansas $57,400Louisiana $57,370New Mexico $51,780Mississippi $49,810Alabama $49,420West Virginia $49,110
Working as a Surgical Technologist in California
Nationally, about 117,000 people work as Surgical Technologists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($81,310) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Surgical Technologist make in California?
The median Surgical Technologist salary in California is $81,310 per year, or about $39.09 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $49,140 at the entry level to $115,740 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Surgical Technologists about 26% more than the national median of $64,650. California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Surgical Technologists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $81,310 a year. About 11,920 Surgical Technologists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Surgical Technologist salary report
Related salaries
$62,520
median pay · 31,000 employed
$62,930
median pay · 333,000 employed
$80,110
median pay · 230,000 employed
$72,300
median pay · 51,000 employed
$45,570
median pay · 71,000 employed
$59,460
median pay · 9,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.