Surgical Technologist Salary in San Francisco, CA
Surgical Technologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $99,390 a year — 54% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $72,445 take-home, or $6,037 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median surgical technologist salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,036
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,162
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,441
- California income tax$5,014
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,292
- Take-home pay$72,445
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Surgical Technologist pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,570 | $30.08 | $49,838 | $4,153 |
| 25th percentile | $77,680 | $37.35 | $59,466 | $4,955 |
| Median (50th) | $99,390 | $47.78 | $72,445 | $6,037 |
| 75th percentile | $115,740 | $55.64 | $82,214 | $6,851 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,530 | $59.39 | $86,834 | $7,236 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,390 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median surgical technologist's $72,445 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,662 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 San Francisco, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for surgical technologists, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #3 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 |
*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
- Riverside, CA — $77,490
- San Diego, CA — $82,260
- 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 Francisco, CA?
The median surgical technologist salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $99,390 a year, or about $47.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,680 and $115,740.
What is a surgical technologist’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $99,390 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $72,445 a year ($6,037 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,306 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a surgical technologist?
Pay here is 54% above the national median of $64,650. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,662 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #3 of 57 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surgical technologist afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median surgical technologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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