Surgical Technologist salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Surgical Technologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $106,840 a year ($51.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 700 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,480 for the top 10%. That is 65% higher than the national median of $64,650. Pay here is 31% higher than the California statewide median of $81,310. There are 0.61 surgical technologists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $105,420, close to the median.
Pay range for surgical technologists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,640 | $37.33 |
| 25th percentile | $82,480 | $39.65 |
| Median | $106,840 | $51.37 |
| 75th percentile | $123,880 | $59.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,480 | $64.17 |
| Average (mean) | $105,420 | $50.68 |
Half of surgical technologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,903.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,451.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,109.23 |
| Weekly | $2,054.62 |
| Hourly | $51.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $106,840 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Surgical Technologist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $105,260 | 100 |
| Napa, CA | $102,490 | 60 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $100,130 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $99,960 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,390 | 1,440 |
| Redding, CA | $89,940 | 80 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $82,300 | 170 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,260 | 1,110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $81,580 | 3,440 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $80,730 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,060 | 200 |
| Modesto, CA | $79,950 | 120 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,510 | 170 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $78,470 | 240 |
| Chico, CA | $78,050 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77,490 | 1,190 |
| Salinas, CA | $72,780 | 120 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $65,980 | 1,020 |
| Fresno, CA | $64,380 | 520 |
| Visalia, CA | $61,270 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for surgical technologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $82,640 |
| Oregon | $81,390 |
| California | $81,310 |
| Massachusetts | $80,870 |
| Alaska | $80,380 |
| Minnesota | $80,210 |
| Connecticut | $79,890 |
| New York | $79,550 |
| District of Columbia | $77,520 |
| Washington | $77,270 |
See Surgical Technologist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $84,870 | $40.80 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $75,490 | $36.29 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $81,170 | $39.02 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $154,850 | $74.45 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $86,890 | $41.78 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $54,650 | $26.27 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $173,150 | $83.25 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $67,280 | $32.35 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $60,480 | $29.08 |
| Dietetic Technician | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $51,300 | $24.67 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $55,550 | $26.71 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $97,590 | $46.92 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2055. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surgical technologist make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for surgical technologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $106,840 a year, or $51.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid surgical technologists make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of surgical technologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $133,480 a year. The top 25% earn $123,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for surgical technologists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,640 a year, and a quarter of surgical technologists earn $82,480 or less.
How many surgical technologists work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 700 surgical technologists are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.