PermanentPosted yesterday
Surgical Tech II Certified
CommonSpirit Health · Glendale, CA
$36.65–$51.32/ hour
New this week
Surgical Technologist jobs in Lake Forest, CA
Pay for surgical technologists in the Lake Forest area centers on $38.84 per hour, or about $80,790 a year. The lower quarter earns under $31.68 and the upper quarter over $45.13. The CMS hospital directory lists 85 hospitals in the Lake Forest metro area. That ranks 18th of 281 U.S. metro areas for surgical technologist pay, and 48th of 261 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Lake Forest.
- $38.84median pay per hour, Los Angeles
- $32–$45typical range per hour
- 3,500surgical technologists employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Surgical Technologist roles near Lake Forest
Roles in other cities of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area.
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90+ more Surgical Technologist roles for you in Lake Forest, CA
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Named employers near Lake Forest, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportSurgical Technologist pay in Lake Forest, 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).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $24.11 | $50,150 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $31.68 | $65,890 | 5% above U.S. median |
| Median | $38.84 | $80,790 | 29% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $45.13 | $93,870 | 49% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $47.58 | $98,970 | 57% above U.S. median |
How Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest
- 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 Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest
| Item | Federal 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 the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area
CMS lists 85 hospitals in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area, 27 of the 66 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian Newport Beach, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | No |
| Keck Hospital Of Usc Los Angeles, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | No |
| Providence Little Company Of Mary Med Ctr Torrance Torrance, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | No |
| Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Monica - Ucla Med Ctr & Orthopaedic Hospital Santa Monica, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| St Mary Medical Center Long Beach, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Torrance Memorial Medical Center Torrance, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Ahmc Anaheim Regional Medical Center Anaheim, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Viejo, CA | 3 mi | $38.84/hr | 91,601 |
| Irvine, CA | 6 mi | $38.84/hr | 318,683 |
| Corona, CA | 16 mi | $37.02/hr | 161,540 |
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 Lake Forest
Lake Forest city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do surgical technologists make in Lake Forest, 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 Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest?
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 Lake Forest.
Do I need a California license to work in Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest?
The federal per diem benchmark in Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Lake Forest and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Lake Forest.
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What do employers near Lake Forest 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.
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230+ Surgical Technologist roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Surg Tech pay reportLake Forest, 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.