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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Surgical Technician in California is $60,100 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.
However, a Surgical Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Surgical Technician Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $69,800 | $5,817 | $1,342 | $34 |
| Average | $60,100 | $5,008 | $1,156 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,100 | $4,342 | $1,002 | $25 |
Private Company - Monterey Park, CA
Veracity Solutions - Apple Valley, CA
USPI - Pleasanton, CA
Surgery Center - Beverly Hills, CA
A Surgical Technician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Surgical Technician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Surgical Technician | $58,671 |
| Intermediate Level Surgical Technician | $60,403 |
| Senior Level Surgical Technician | $64,460 |
| Specialist Level Surgical Technician | $64,894 |
| Expert Level Surgical Technician | $65,184 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Surgical Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Surgical Technician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $63,749. While startup companies pay approximate $54,324.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $54,324 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $57,346 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $61,665 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $63,749 |
For Surgical Technician roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 15% above the average. Conversely, Surgical Technician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Surgical Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $69,115 | $33.0 | 15% |
Understanding how a Surgical Technician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $69,800 | $5,817 | $1,342 | $34 |
| Average | $60,100 | $5,008 | $1,156 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,100 | $4,342 | $1,002 | $25 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Surgical Technician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Veracity
Apple Valley, CA
Veracity | Apple Valley, CA
Surgical Technician Full-Time or Per Diem - Multiple Levels Apple Valley, CaliforniaThis unit is hiring for various levels of surgical tech to include seni... more
8 Days Ago
Hired by Matrix
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Hired by Matrix | Mammoth Lakes, CA
Surgical Technician. Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA. Job Type: Travel. Discipline: Allied Health Professional. Speciality: Surgical Technician. Facility Setti... more
8 Days Ago
San Antonio Regional Hospital
Upland, CA
San Antonio Regional Hospital | Upland, CA
Job Title. The role encompasses assisting with the patient care in the surgical setting through the provision of technical assistance to the surgical team ... more
8 Days Ago
E-talentnetwork
Los Angeles, CA
E-talentnetwork | Los Angeles, CA
Surgical Technician. Center is currently in need of highly skilled Surgical Technicians (STs) with a minimum of two (2) recent years of acute care setting ... more
9 Days Ago
NVISION Eye Centers
Roseville, CA
NVISION Eye Centers | Roseville, CA
Surgical Tech. NVISION Eye Centers is one of the largest ophthalmology providers in the U.S., with over ninety centers across six states including Californ... more
9 Days Ago
3B Healthcare, Inc.
Templeton, CA
3B Healthcare, Inc. | Templeton, CA
Surgical Technician. Located in Templeton amongst the oak trees, Adventist Health Twin Cities has been serving northern San Luis Obispo County since 1977. ... more
9 Days Ago
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