Surgical Technologist Salary in San Diego, CA
Surgical Technologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $82,260 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,210 take-home, or $5,184 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median surgical technologist salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,267
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,100
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,193
- California income tax$3,421
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,069
- Take-home pay$62,210
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Surgical Technologist pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,300 | $29.95 | $49,641 | $4,137 |
| 25th percentile | $66,740 | $32.09 | $52,787 | $4,399 |
| Median (50th) | $82,260 | $39.55 | $62,210 | $5,184 |
| 75th percentile | $96,390 | $46.34 | $70,653 | $5,888 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,430 | $48.76 | $73,664 | $6,139 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,260 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median surgical technologist's $62,210 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,601 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 about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for surgical technologists, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | San Diego, CA | $82,260 | $62,210 | $55,601 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $81,580
- Fresno, CA — $64,380
- Sacramento, CA — $65,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surgical technologist make in San Diego, CA?
The median surgical technologist salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $82,260 a year, or about $39.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $66,740 and $96,390.
What is a surgical technologist’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $82,260 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $62,210 a year ($5,184 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,490 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a surgical technologist?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $64,650. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,601 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #20 of 57 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surgical technologist afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median surgical technologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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