Surgical Technologists pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,430 or more. The middle half of surgical technologists in San Diego earn between $66,740 and $96,390.
- $62K10th
- $67K25th
- $82KMedian
- $96K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,720 | $6,893 | $39.77 |
| Median | $82,260 | $6,855 | $39.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,740 | $5,562 | $32.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,390 | $8,032 | $46.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Technologists pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Surgical technologists in San Diego earn about the same as the California average ($82,810) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($68,710). At the median the gap is +27% against the U.S. median of $64,650.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $82,720 | $82,260 | $62,300 | $101,430 | 1,110 |
| California | $82,810 | $81,310 | $49,140 | $115,740 | 11,920 |
| United States | $68,710 | $64,650 | $45,940 | $96,940 | 117,460 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Surgical Technologists salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $82,720, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $63,423 a year, or $5,285 a month and $2,439 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for surgical technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $82,720 buys what about $73,932 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 11.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Technologists salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 10th of 21 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($105,420).
- San Jose$105,420
- Vallejo$103,120
- San Francisco$96,990
- Napa$96,920
- Santa Cruz$95,450
- Santa Rosa$93,780
- Redding$83,890
- Stockton$83,830
- Oxnard$83,030
- San Diego$82,720
Highest-paying cities for surgical technologists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($105,420).
- San Jose, CA$105,420
- Vallejo, CA$103,120
- San Francisco, CA$96,990
- Napa, CA$96,920
- Santa Cruz, CA$95,450
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Surgical Technologists salary in San Diego: questions
How much do surgical technologists make an hour in San Diego?
$39.77 an hour on average, and $39.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical technologists salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical technologists take-home pay in San Diego?
About $63,423 a year ($5,285 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,720. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do surgical technologists earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% more than the U.S. average for this job ($68,710).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-2055; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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