CA · Santa Clara · Updated October 15, 2026

Surgical Technologist jobs in Santa Clara, CA

The median surgical technologist pay in the Santa Clara area is $49.61 per hour ($103,190 a year), with the typical range running from $39.46 to $57.42. That ranks 2nd of 281 U.S. metro areas for surgical technologist pay, and 5th of 261 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Santa Clara. The free report below lists employers near Santa Clara and what they pay.

More open Surgical Technologist roles in Santa Clara

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

Surgical Technologist pay in Santa Clara, CA

The metro median is 27% above the California statewide median of $39.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $30.21 per hour. BLS counts about 670 surgical technologists employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.80).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$35.99$74,86019% above U.S. median
Lower quartile$39.46$82,08031% above U.S. median
Median$49.61$103,19064% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$57.42$119,43090% above U.S. median
Top 10%$62.18$129,330106% above U.S. median

How Santa Clara ranks

  • 2nd of 281 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 5th of 261 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st 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.

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

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What your pay buys in Santa Clara

  • Overall prices in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara run 10% above the U.S. average (index 110.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 112% above the U.S. average (index 211.9).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $49.61 median hour buys what $44.93 buys at the national price level, 49% 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 Santa Clara paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,786
  • Per year: $89,298
  • Per month: $7,442

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Santa Clara

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$192
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,988
13-week assignment$25,844

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).

Open Surgical Technologist roles in California

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Santa Clara as they open.

Per diemPosted today

Surgical Technician

CommonSpirit Health · Woodland, CA

$46.94–$53.94/ hour
  • Seasonal/Casual/OnCall/Supplemental
  • Req 102006734192
Top 25% payNew this week
View role
PermanentPosted yesterday

Operating Room Technician

CommonSpirit Health · Carmichael, CA

$43.65–$49.44/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 101953956912
New this week
View role
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

All Surgical Technologist jobs in California

Hospitals in Santa Clara

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Santa Clara, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of surgical technologists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Kaiser Foundation Hospital-Santa Clara
Santa Clara, CA
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Kaiser Permanente Psychiatric Health Facility-Sant
Santa Clara, CA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedYes

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
Sunnyvale, CA4 mi$49.61/hr156,792
Cupertino, CA5 mi$49.61/hr58,710
Fremont, CA9 mi$47.51/hr228,192
Union City, CA17 mi$47.51/hr66,196
Redwood City, CA17 mi$47.51/hr82,982
Hayward, CA20 mi$47.51/hr158,440

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 Santa Clara

Santa Clara city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do surgical technologists make in Santa Clara, CA?

Surgical Technologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area have a median pay of $49.61 per hour, about $103,190 a year. The middle half earn between $39.46 and $57.42 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks 5th of 261 metro areas for surgical technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 2nd of 281 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.

Where do surgical technologists work in Santa Clara?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Santa Clara, led by Kaiser Foundation Hospital-Santa Clara. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara?

The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Clara is $192 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,988 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place surgical technologists in Santa Clara?

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

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

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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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 Santa Clara, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Surg Tech pay reportSanta Clara, 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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