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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The pay gap between states for this occupation? It can fund an entire year of rent. The national median salary for Surgical Technologists in 2026 is $66,342, with entry-level positions averaging $47,766 and senior roles reaching $94,205. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $120,840, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Healthcare within the broader Healthcare industry, Surgical Technologists typically hold Postsecondary certificate. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is hospital. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$73,530 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Surgical Technologist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $120,840 — $73,530 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($47,310). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The salary distribution for Surgical Technologists reveals a $46,439 spread from entry to senior. At $66,342, the median sits $14,025 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $47,766 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $94,205 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $112,860 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $47,690 (average of the bottom 3). That $65,170 delta is real money — $5,431/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Surgical Technologist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $120,840 — $73,530 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($47,310). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Surgical Technologist is $47,766, while senior-level (P90) earners average $94,205. That $46,439 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $47,766 | $66,342 | $94,205 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £24,822 | £34,475 | £48,955 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$38,436 | CA$53,384 | CA$75,805 |
| Australia | 13 | A$44,436 | A$61,717 | A$87,638 |
| Sweden | 24 | 262,321 kr | 364,334 kr | 517,354 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $57,651 | $80,071 | $113,701 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $55,712 | $77,378 | $109,876 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $55,404 | $76,950 | $109,269 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $51,300 | $71,250 | $101,175 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $50,684 | $70,395 | $99,961 |
| Washington | 8 | $49,710 | $69,041 | $98,039 |
| New York | 5 | $46,785 | $64,980 | $92,271 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $46,786 | $64,980 | $92,272 |
| Florida | 22 | $46,431 | $64,488 | $91,573 |
| Colorado | 11 | $45,629 | $63,374 | $89,991 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $45,554 | $63,270 | $89,843 |
| Nevada | 5 | $45,472 | $63,156 | $89,681 |
| Arizona | 12 | $45,247 | $62,843 | $89,236 |
| Oregon | 5 | $45,144 | $62,700 | $89,034 |
| Idaho | 3 | $45,007 | $62,510 | $88,764 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $44,652 | $62,016 | $88,063 |
| Utah | 4 | $44,528 | $61,845 | $87,820 |
| Virginia | 7 | $43,795 | $60,827 | $86,374 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $43,229 | $60,040 | $85,257 |
| Alaska | 1 | $43,092 | $59,850 | $84,987 |
| Illinois | 5 | $42,599 | $59,166 | $84,016 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $41,542 | $57,697 | $81,929 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| Montana | 1 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $40,903 | $56,810 | $80,670 |
| Texas | 40 | $40,701 | $56,530 | $80,272 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $40,630 | $56,430 | $80,131 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $40,425 | $56,145 | $79,726 |
| Georgia | 6 | $40,288 | $55,955 | $79,456 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $40,219 | $55,860 | $79,321 |
| Kansas | 4 | $40,014 | $55,575 | $78,917 |
| Michigan | 6 | $39,877 | $55,385 | $78,647 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $39,399 | $54,720 | $77,703 |
| Maryland | 1 | $39,398 | $54,720 | $77,702 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $38,988 | $54,150 | $76,893 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $38,988 | $54,150 | $76,893 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $37,962 | $52,725 | $74,870 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $37,757 | $52,440 | $74,465 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $37,244 | $51,728 | $73,453 |
| Missouri | 4 | $37,244 | $51,728 | $73,453 |
| Alabama | 5 | $37,100 | $51,528 | $73,170 |
| Indiana | 3 | $36,526 | $50,730 | $72,037 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $36,526 | $50,730 | $72,037 |
| Iowa | 2 | $36,115 | $50,160 | $71,227 |
| Ohio | 6 | $36,047 | $50,065 | $71,093 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $34,474 | $47,880 | $67,990 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Surgical Technologist median of $80,071 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($77,378) and Hawaii ($76,950). Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $47,880 and $50,160. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($120,840 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $57,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $120,840 | 212 | $57,000 | $73,480 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $112,860 | 198 | $57,000 | $69,087 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $104,880 | 184 | $57,000 | $64,694 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $103,170 | 181 | $57,000 | $63,753 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $101,460 | 178 | $57,000 | $62,811 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $100,890 | 177 | $57,000 | $62,497 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $100,890 | 177 | $57,000 | $62,497 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $98,610 | 173 | $57,000 | $61,204 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $98,610 | 173 | $57,000 | $61,204 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $96,330 | 169 | $57,000 | $59,903 |
The $46,439 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Surgical Technologist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Healthcare sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Surgical Technologists is $66,342 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $47,766, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $94,205.
The highest-paying city for Surgical Technologists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $120,840. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($120,840), Santa Clara ($112,860), Irvine ($104,880). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Surgical Technologist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $47,310. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Surgical Technologists (10th percentile) average $47,766 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $87,005. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Surgical Technologists average $94,205 nationally — $46,439 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Surgical Technologists can earn up to $171,593.
The top-paying states for Surgical Technologists are California ($80,071 median), Massachusetts ($77,378 median), Hawaii ($76,950 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Surgical Technologist involves Postsecondary certificate. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hospital.
With a national median of $66,342 and representation across 288 metro areas, Surgical Technologist offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $46,439 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.