Surgical Technologists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $130,480 or more. The middle half of surgical technologists in Santa Cruz earn between $79,130 and $107,920.
- $65K10th
- $79K25th
- $100KMedian
- $108K75th
- $130K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $95,450 | $7,954 | $45.89 |
| Median | $100,130 | $8,344 | $48.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,130 | $6,594 | $38.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $107,920 | $8,993 | $51.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Technologists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Surgical technologists in Santa Cruz earn 15% more than the California average ($82,810) and 39% more than the U.S. average ($68,710). At the median the gap is +55% against the U.S. median of $64,650.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $95,450 | $100,130 | $65,260 | $130,480 | 80 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $95,450, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $71,194 a year, or $5,933 a month and $2,738 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 Santa Cruz a good place for surgical technologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $95,450 buys what about $86,855 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 12.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Technologists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 5th 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 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 Santa Cruz: questions
How much do surgical technologists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$45.89 an hour on average, and $48.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical technologists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical technologists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $71,194 a year ($5,933 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $95,450. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do surgical technologists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 39% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.3%.
- 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 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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