PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Surgical Tech LDR- Certified
Palomar Health · Escondido, CA
$31.85–$47.85/ hour
New this week
Surgical Technologist jobs in Carlsbad, CA
Pay for surgical technologists in the Carlsbad area centers on $39.63 per hour, or about $82,430 a year. The lower quarter earns under $31.57 and the upper quarter over $45.69. The CMS hospital directory lists 18 hospitals in the Carlsbad metro area. That ranks 11th of 281 U.S. metro areas for surgical technologist pay, and 33rd of 261 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Carlsbad.
- $39.63median pay per hour, San Diego
- $32–$46typical range per hour
- 960surgical technologists employed in the metro area
- 9open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Surgical Technologist roles near Carlsbad
Roles in other cities of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area.
Per diemPosted 2 days ago
Surgical Tech-Non-Cert
Palomar Health · Escondido, CA
$30.92–$46.42/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
85+ more Surgical Technologist roles for you in Carlsbad, CA
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Surgical Tech I - Women's Surgery - Sharp Grossmont - Day Shift - Per Diem
Sharp HealthCare · La Mesa, CA
$37.17–$46.45/ hour
New this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Surgical Tech I - Surgery - Sharp Memorial Hospital - Variable Shift - Per Diem
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$37.17–$46.45/ hour
New this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Surgical Tech I - Surgery - Sharp Memorial Hospital - Variable Shift - Per Diem
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$37.17–$46.45/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Surgical Tech II - Open Heart/Cardiovascular Surgery – Sharp Chula Vista – Variable – Full Time – Eligible for New Hire Sign On Bonus
Sharp HealthCare · Chula Vista, CA
$35.28–$45.52/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Surgical Tech I - Surgery - Sharp Chula Vista - Night Shift - Part Time
Sharp HealthCare · Chula Vista, CA
$33.79–$42.23/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Surgical Technologist II - Operating Room
Rady Children's Hospital · San Diego, CA
$36.03–$50.13/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Surgical Tech I - Surgery - Sharp Chula Vista - Night Shift - Part Time
Sharp Healthcare · Chula Vista, CA
$33.79–$42.23/ hour
Get the Carlsbad Surgical Technologist pay report
Named employers near Carlsbad, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring surgical technologists near Carlsbad
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp HealthCare | 5 | $41.81 |
| Palomar Health | 2 | $39.26 |
| Rady Children's Hospital | 1 | $43.08 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 1 | $38.01 |
Surgical Technologist pay in Carlsbad, CA
The metro median is 2% above the California statewide median of $39.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 960 surgical technologists employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.85).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $29.31 | $60,960 | 3% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $31.57 | $65,670 | 5% above U.S. median |
| Median | $39.63 | $82,430 | 31% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $45.69 | $95,040 | 51% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $47.14 | $98,050 | 56% above U.S. median |
How Carlsbad ranks
- 11th of 281 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 33rd of 261 after adjusting for local prices
- 8th 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 Carlsbad
- Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $39.63 median hour buys what $35.42 buys at the national price level, 17% 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 Carlsbad paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,427
- Per year: $71,334
- Per month: $5,944
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Carlsbad
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $205 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,037 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,481 |
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 the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area
CMS lists 18 hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area, 10 of the 13 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Va San Diego Healthcare System San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas Encinitas, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital And Hlthcr Ctr Coronado, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Surgical Technologist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vista, CA | 5 mi | $39.63/hr | 99,322 |
| Encinitas, CA | 6 mi | $39.63/hr | 61,137 |
| Temecula, CA | 27 mi | $37.02/hr | 112,431 |
| San Clemente, CA | 29 mi | $38.84/hr | 62,627 |
| Murrieta, CA | 31 mi | $37.02/hr | 112,539 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Carlsbad
Carlsbad city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do surgical technologists make in Carlsbad, CA?
Surgical Technologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $39.63 per hour, about $82,430 a year. The middle half earn between $31.57 and $45.69 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Carlsbad a good place for surgical technologists once cost of living is counted?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 33rd of 261 metro areas for surgical technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 11th of 281 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring surgical technologists in Carlsbad?
We list 9 open roles with published pay from 4 employers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Carlsbad.
Do I need a California license to work in Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad?
The federal per diem benchmark in Carlsbad is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place surgical technologists in Carlsbad?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Carlsbad and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Carlsbad.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Carlsbad pay surgical technologists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
230+ Surgical Technologist roles in California, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Surg Tech pay reportCarlsbad, 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
- Surgical TechnicianPer diem$46.94–$53.94/ hour
- Operating Room TechnicianPermanent$43.65–$49.44/ hour
+ 26 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.