CA · Irvine · Updated October 15, 2026

Surgical Technologist jobs in Irvine, CA

Surgical Technologists in the Irvine area earn a median of $38.84 per hour, about $80,790 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $31.68 and $45.13. That ranks 18th of 281 U.S. metro areas for surgical technologist pay, and 48th of 261 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Irvine and its metro area. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Irvine.

Open Surgical Technologist roles near Irvine

Roles in other cities of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area.

More open Surgical Technologist roles in Irvine

4 more open roles from employers in Irvine. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

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

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Surgical Technologist pay in Irvine, CA

The metro median is in line with the California statewide median of $39.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 3,500 surgical technologists employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.76).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$24.11$50,15020% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$31.68$65,8905% above U.S. median
Median$38.84$80,79029% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$45.13$93,87049% above U.S. median
Top 10%$47.58$98,97057% above U.S. median

How Irvine ranks

  • 18th of 281 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 48th of 261 after adjusting for local prices
  • 11th 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 Irvine

  • Overall prices in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim run 14% above the U.S. average (index 113.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 70% above the U.S. average (index 170.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $38.84 median hour buys what $34.20 buys at the national price level, 13% 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 Irvine paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,398
  • Per year: $69,912
  • Per month: $5,826

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Irvine

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$191
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,939
13-week assignment$25,207

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 Irvine

CMS lists 1 hospital in Irvine. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Hoag Orthopedic Institute
Irvine, CA
Acute careFor-profitNot ratedNo

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
Tustin, CA4 mi$38.84/hr78,863
Lake Forest, CA6 mi$38.84/hr87,159

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 Irvine

Irvine city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do surgical technologists make in Irvine, CA?

Surgical Technologists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area have a median pay of $38.84 per hour, about $80,790 a year. The middle half earn between $31.68 and $45.13 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim ranks 48th of 261 metro areas for surgical technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 18th of 281 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring surgical technologists in Irvine?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Irvine.

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Irvine is $191 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,939 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place surgical technologists in Irvine?

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

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

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    What they are offering now

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

Your Surg Tech pay reportIrvine, 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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