Surgical Technologist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Surgical Technologists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $81,580 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,804 take-home, or $5,150 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median surgical technologist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,118
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,058
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,183
- California income tax$3,357
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,061
- Take-home pay$61,804
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Surgical Technologist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,250 | $24.16 | $40,838 | $3,403 |
| 25th percentile | $66,100 | $31.78 | $52,356 | $4,363 |
| Median (50th) | $81,580 | $39.22 | $61,804 | $5,150 |
| 75th percentile | $97,790 | $47.01 | $71,489 | $5,957 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,010 | $49.04 | $74,011 | $6,168 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,580 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median surgical technologist's $61,804 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,421 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Surgical Technologist jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for surgical technologists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #28 of 57 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $106,840 | $76,896 | $69,638 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $79,990 | $65,103 | $63,152 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $99,390 | $72,445 | $62,662 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $77,440 | $59,724 | $62,314 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $73,810 | $60,755 | $61,954 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $74,200 | $61,030 | $60,899 |
| 7 | Boise City, ID | $76,650 | $59,799 | $60,777 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $74,830 | $58,887 | $60,748 |
| 28 | Los Angeles, CA | $81,580 | $61,804 | $54,421 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 57 metros →
Surgical Technologist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $106,840
- San Francisco, CA — $99,390
- Riverside, CA — $77,490
- San Diego, CA — $82,260
- Fresno, CA — $64,380
- Sacramento, CA — $65,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surgical technologist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median surgical technologist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $81,580 a year, or about $39.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $66,100 and $97,790.
What is a surgical technologist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $81,580 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $61,804 a year ($5,150 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,418 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a surgical technologist?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $64,650. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,421 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #28 of 57 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surgical technologist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median surgical technologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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