California surgical tech pay by percentile
California surgical techs at the median earn $81,310, and the middle half earn $64,380 to $99,260; the top 10% earn more than $115,740.[onet_surg][oews] California ranks #3 among the 50 states and DC, $1,330 behind Hawaii at the top. Its 10th percentile, though, is $49,140, only $3,200 above the national figure, so new graduates in lower-paying parts of the state start close to national pay.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,140 | $23.63 | $41,664 |
| 25th | $64,380 | $30.95 | $53,909 |
| Median (50th) | $81,310 | $39.09 | $66,032 |
| 75th | $99,260 | $47.72 | $78,659 |
| 90th | $115,740 | $55.64 | $90,253 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare; before state tax.
Surgical tech hourly pay in California
Surgical tech hourly pay in California is $39.09 at the median, $23.63 at the 10th percentile and $55.64 at the 90th.[onet_surg] BLS gets these hourly rates by dividing annual pay by 2,080 hours, and they leave out call pay, overtime and shift differentials, which operating rooms often pay on top of base.[oews_faq]
Surgical tech salary by California metro area
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA pays California surgical techs the most, at a $106,840 median, and 6 Bay Area and North Bay metros pay more than the statewide median.[onet_surg] In Southern California, Los Angeles is at $81,580 and San Diego at $82,260; Sacramento is $65,980.
| Area | Median | Hourly | 10th pct. | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $106,840 | $51.37 | $77,640 | $133,480 |
| Vallejo, CA | $105,260 | $50.61 | $64,580 | $126,210 |
| Napa, CA | $102,490 | $49.27 | $75,350 | $129,180 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $100,130 | $48.14 | $65,260 | $130,480 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $99,960 | $48.06 | $61,470 | $121,010 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,390 | $47.78 | $62,570 | $123,530 |
| Redding, CA | $89,940 | $43.24 | $50,440 | $102,720 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $86,410 | $41.54 | $57,360 | $104,110 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $82,300 | $39.57 | $52,000 | $113,590 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,260 | $39.55 | $62,300 | $101,430 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $81,810 | $39.33 | $61,530 | $107,120 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $81,740 | $39.30 | $49,980 | $101,520 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $81,580 | $39.22 | $50,250 | $102,010 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $80,730 | $38.81 | $45,210 | $107,330 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,060 | $38.49 | $53,710 | $121,510 |
| Modesto, CA | $79,950 | $38.44 | $50,230 | $102,990 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,510 | $37.75 | $49,720 | $107,490 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $78,470 | $37.73 | $50,730 | $94,270 |
| Chico, CA | $78,050 | $37.52 | $48,860 | $100,310 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77,490 | $37.25 | $49,840 | $98,170 |
| Salinas, CA | $72,780 | $34.99 | $59,160 | $98,870 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $65,980 | $31.72 | $45,760 | $119,960 |
| Fresno, CA | $64,380 | $30.95 | $46,890 | $85,640 |
| Visalia, CA | $61,270 | $29.46 | $42,890 | $79,310 |
A higher metro median does not always mean more money left over. Enter a metro median in the calculator with your California tax rate: at the state median a single filer keeps about $61,966 a year after federal tax, FICA and a 5% effective state rate.
California vs Texas and the national median
A California surgical tech at the median earns $16,090 more than one in Texas ($65,220), which has no state income tax, and $16,660 more than the national median of $64,650.[onet_surg] Every state's figure is ranked on surgical tech salary.
Working as a surgical tech in California
Surgical technologist rules are set state by state. Washington requires registration with its Department of Health to use the title, Texas bars licensed facilities from employing surgical techs without accredited training and national certification, and Virginia restricts the title to Board-certified practitioners.[wa_st][tx_259][va_st] The national credential for the field is the NBSTSA's Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), which requires graduating from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program.[nbstsa_elig] The exam, its $340 fee ($230 for AST members) and the training timeline are on how to become a surgical tech.[nbstsa_faq]
Frequently asked questions
How much do surgical techs make in California?
$81,310 a year at the California median (BLS, May 2025), or $39.09 an hour.
What is the surgical tech salary in Los Angeles?
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim median is $81,580, or $39.22 an hour.
Where do surgical techs make the most in California?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,840 median), followed by Vallejo, CA and Napa, CA.
What certification do surgical techs need in California?
Ask each employer. The national credential is the NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), which requires an accredited program and a $340 exam ($230 for AST members).
Sources
- Local Wages: 29-2055.00 Surgical Technologists (state and metro percentiles)
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates
- OEWS Frequently Asked Questions (wage definition; 2,080-hour year)
- RCW 18.215, Surgical technologists (registration)
- Health and Safety Code chapter 259, Surgical Technologists at Health Care Facilities (§259.002)
- Code of Virginia §54.1-2956.12, Surgical technologists; certification
- CST Eligibility
- CST and CSFA FAQs (exam price $340; AST members $230; $100 processing fee)