Surgical Technologists pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $133,480 or more. The middle half of surgical technologists in San Jose earn between $82,480 and $123,880.
- $78K10th
- $82K25th
- $107KMedian
- $124K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $105,420 | $8,785 | $50.68 |
| Median | $106,840 | $8,903 | $51.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,480 | $6,873 | $39.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $123,880 | $10,323 | $59.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Technologists pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Surgical technologists in San Jose earn 27% more than the California average ($82,810) and 53% more than the U.S. average ($68,710). At the median the gap is +65% against the U.S. median of $64,650.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $105,420 | $106,840 | $77,640 | $133,480 | 700 |
| 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 Jose
On the average salary of $105,420, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $77,281 a year, or $6,440 a month and $2,972 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 Jose a good place for surgical technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $105,420 buys what about $95,469 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 15.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Technologists salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 21 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Jose: questions
How much do surgical technologists make an hour in San Jose?
$50.68 an hour on average, and $51.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical technologists salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical technologists take-home pay in San Jose?
About $77,281 a year ($6,440 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $105,420. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do surgical technologists earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 53% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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