CA · Escondido · Updated October 15, 2026

Surgical Technologist jobs in Escondido, CA

The median surgical technologist pay in the Escondido area is $39.63 per hour ($82,430 a year), with the typical range running from $31.57 to $45.69. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Escondido. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Escondido. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Escondido.

Open Surgical Technologist roles in Escondido

Per diemPosted 2 days ago

Surgical Tech-Non-Cert

Palomar Health · Escondido, CA

$30.92–$46.42/ hour
  • Per Diem
  • Req JR100601
New this week
View role

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

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Surgical Technologist pay in Escondido, 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).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$29.31$60,9603% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$31.57$65,6705% above U.S. median
Median$39.63$82,43031% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$45.69$95,04051% above U.S. median
Top 10%$47.14$98,05056% above U.S. median

How Escondido 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 Escondido

  • 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 Escondido 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 Escondido

ItemFederal 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 Escondido

CMS lists 1 hospital in Escondido, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Palomar Health Downtown Campus
Escondido, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal3 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
San Marcos, CA6 mi$39.63/hr96,620
Vista, CA10 mi$39.63/hr99,322
Temecula, CA25 mi$37.02/hr112,431
Murrieta, CA31 mi$37.02/hr112,539

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.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Escondido

Escondido city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do surgical technologists make in Escondido, 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 Escondido 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 Escondido?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Escondido. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Escondido.

Do I need a California license to work in Escondido 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 Escondido?

The federal per diem benchmark in Escondido 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 Escondido?

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

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

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

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

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Palomar HealthEscondido, CA · 2 postings$39.26/ hr$31–$48
  • 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

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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