Surgical Technologists pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $107,330 or more. The middle half of surgical technologists in San Luis Obispo earn between $62,210 and $97,980.
- $45K10th
- $62K25th
- $81KMedian
- $98K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,200 | $6,600 | $38.08 |
| Median | $80,730 | $6,728 | $38.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,210 | $5,184 | $29.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,980 | $8,165 | $47.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Technologists pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Surgical technologists in San Luis Obispo earn 4% less than the California average ($82,810) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($68,710). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $64,650.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $79,200 | $80,730 | $45,210 | $107,330 | 100 |
| 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 Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $79,200, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $61,274 a year, or $5,106 a month and $2,357 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 Luis Obispo a good place for surgical technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Luis Obispo area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.6), so the average $79,200 buys what about $72,931 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 11.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Technologists salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 13th 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 Luis Obispo$79,200
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 Luis Obispo: questions
How much do surgical technologists make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$38.08 an hour on average, and $38.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical technologists salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical technologists take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $61,274 a year ($5,106 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,200. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do surgical technologists earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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