CA · Berkeley · Updated October 15, 2026

Surgical Technologist jobs in Berkeley, CA

Pay for surgical technologists in the Berkeley area centers on $47.51 per hour, or about $98,820 a year. The lower quarter earns under $38.20 and the upper quarter over $55.77. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Berkeley. That ranks 5th of 281 U.S. metro areas for surgical technologist pay, and 8th of 261 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Berkeley.

Open Surgical Technologist roles near Berkeley

Roles in other cities of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area.

More open Surgical Technologist roles in Berkeley

1 more open role from employers in Berkeley. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

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Named employers near Berkeley, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Surgical Technologist pay in Berkeley, CA

The metro median is 22% above the California statewide median of $39.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 1,260 surgical technologists employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.71).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$31.30$65,1004% above U.S. median
Lower quartile$38.20$79,46026% above U.S. median
Median$47.51$98,82057% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$55.77$116,00085% above U.S. median
Top 10%$57.84$120,31091% above U.S. median

How Berkeley ranks

  • 5th of 281 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 8th of 261 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th of 20 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Berkeley

  • Overall prices in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont run 16% above the U.S. average (index 115.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 95% above the U.S. average (index 194.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $47.51 median hour buys what $41.09 buys at the national price level, 36% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Berkeley paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,710
  • Per year: $85,518
  • Per month: $7,126

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Berkeley

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$145
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,659
13-week assignment$21,567

Travel surgical technologist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Berkeley

CMS lists 1 hospital in Berkeley, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp
Berkeley, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Surgical Technologist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Richmond, CA7 mi$47.51/hr115,353
Oakland, CA8 mi$47.51/hr443,554
Vallejo, CA17 mi$48.79/hr123,475

Surgical Technologist jobs in California · Surgical Technologist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Berkeley

Berkeley city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do surgical technologists make in Berkeley, CA?

Surgical Technologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area have a median pay of $47.51 per hour, about $98,820 a year. The middle half earn between $38.20 and $55.77 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Berkeley a good place for surgical technologists once cost of living is counted?

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ranks 8th of 261 metro areas for surgical technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 5th of 281 before adjusting. Overall prices run 16% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring surgical technologists in Berkeley?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Berkeley.

Do I need a California license to work in Berkeley as a surgical technologist?

CST certification or completion of an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Berkeley?

The federal per diem benchmark in Berkeley is $145 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,659 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place surgical technologists in Berkeley?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Berkeley and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Berkeley.

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What do employers near Berkeley pay surgical technologists? Get the report.

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · Surg Tech near Berkeley, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Surg Tech pay reportBerkeley, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • CommonSpirit HealthSTOCKTON, CA · 10 postings$47.95/ hr$32–$62
  • Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare SystemSalinas, CA · 2 postings$44.43/ hr$41–$48
  • Sharp HealthCareChula Vista, CA · 6 postings$41.81/ hr$34–$48
  • Enloe Medical CenterChico, CA · 2 postings$41.50/ hr$36–$47

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$35Median$42.52High$52

28 Surg Tech postings with published pay in California, 22 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 28 Surg Tech roles

  1. Surgical TechnicianPer diem
    $46.94–$53.94/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Woodland, CA · posted today
  2. Operating Room TechnicianPermanent
    $43.65–$49.44/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Carmichael, CA · posted yesterday

+ 26 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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