Surgical Technologist Jobs in San Diego, CA
Surgical technologists in San Diego hospitals see posted pay from the mid $30s to about $50 an hour, and California requires no state license to scrub in. Sharp, Scripps, UC San Diego Health and Kaiser Permanente all staff operating rooms here. Current openings are below, followed by who hires and how to train.
Current surgical technologist Openings in San Diego, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Surgical Technologist Work in San Diego
San Diego's surgical tech jobs follow its hospital map. Kearny Mesa along SR-163 holds Sharp Memorial, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns and Sharp's outpatient surgery at the James S. Brown Pavilion. Hillcrest has UC San Diego Health's medical center and Scripps Mercy San Diego, while La Jolla adds Jacobs Medical Center and Scripps Memorial La Jolla off I-5. Kaiser's Zion Medical Center sits in Grantville along I-8, Scripps Mercy Chula Vista serves the South Bay, and Palomar Medical Center anchors North County in Escondido.
Postings here cover main ORs, same-day surgery centers, labor and delivery suites and cardiothoracic rooms, so a tech can choose between hospital call schedules and steadier outpatient days. Because California sets no license for the job, each San Diego employer sets its own bar: most want an accredited program or a year of recent scrub experience, and several want the CST credential within months of hire.
Top San Diego Employers for Surgical Technologists
These San Diego health systems hire surgical technologists for inpatient and outpatient surgery:
- Sharp HealthCare - hires Surgical Tech I and II staff for Sharp Memorial, Sharp Mary Birch women's surgery, the James S. Brown Pavilion and Sharp Rees-Stealy.
- Scripps Health - staffs surgical techs at Scripps Mercy Hillcrest, Scripps Mercy Chula Vista, La Jolla and Encinitas, including labor and delivery and a float resource team.
- UC San Diego Health - the academic system hires surgical techs, senior techs and per diem staff for Hillcrest same-day surgery, the Jacobs Medical Center OR and cardiothoracic surgery.
- Kaiser Permanente - hires Surgical Tech II staff for the operating rooms at Zion Medical Center.
- Palomar Health - the North County public system hires surgical technologists for surgery at Palomar Medical Center on Citracado Parkway in Escondido.
Surgical Technologist Salaries in San Diego
- Entry level: about $30 to $38 an hour for new graduates and techs without certification.
- Experienced: roughly $38 to $45 an hour with a CST and a few years of multi-specialty scrub work.
- Senior: $45 to $51 an hour near the top of posted hospital scales, more for lead techs and specialty teams.
These are estimates drawn from pay ranges posted by San Diego hospital systems in 2026. The CST credential, specialty experience such as robotics, cardiac, spine or total joints, and evening, night or call shifts move pay the most. Palomar Health pays under a union contract, and Sharp and Scripps have offered new-hire incentives on some full-time OR roles.
How to Become a Surgical Technologist in San Diego
California does not license surgical technologists; the Medical Board of California says no state license or certification is needed to practice. Employers fill that gap. Most San Diego postings ask for graduation from an accredited surgical technology program or a year of recent operating room experience, plus AHA BLS, and list the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting as preferred. Kaiser's Zion posting requires a CST or the NCCT Technologist in Surgery credential within six months of hire. Locally, Southwestern College runs a one-year Surgical Technology program, accredited through ARC/STSA, at its Higher Education Center at Otay Mesa on Gigantic Street.
What the Job Involves
Surgical technologists prepare the operating room before each case, sterilize and set up instruments, and keep the sterile field intact. During surgery they pass instruments and supplies to the surgeon, anticipate the next step, hold retractors and count sponges, needles and instruments with the circulating nurse. Afterward they help dress wounds, break down the room and send instruments for reprocessing.
Skills Employers Look For
- Graduation from an accredited surgical technology program
- CST or NCCT surgical technologist certification
- Current AHA BLS certification
- Strong sterile technique and instrument knowledge
- Scrub experience across general, orthopedic, OB/GYN or robotic cases
- Calm focus in a fast-paced operating room
- Willingness to take call and work varied shifts
Career Path and Advancement
Many San Diego techs start as Surgical Tech I or per diem staff, then move to Tech II or senior tech after a year or two of multi-specialty cases. From there the ladder runs to lead and principal surgical tech roles, which UC San Diego Health, Scripps and Sharp all post, or into specialty teams for cardiac, spine and robotic surgery. Some techs go on to become surgical first assistants or return to school for nursing.
Related Careers in San Diego
If operating room work interests you, these San Diego health care roles are close matches:
- Radiologic Technologist Jobs
- Registered Nurse Jobs
- Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs
- Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a surgical technologist in San Diego?
No. California has no state license or registration for surgical technologists. San Diego employers set their own requirements, usually an accredited program or recent OR experience, AHA BLS and often a CST.
How much do surgical technologists make in San Diego?
Posted hospital ranges in 2026 run from about $30 an hour for uncertified per diem roles to about $51 an hour at the top of full-time scales. Most experienced techs fall between $38 and $45 an hour.
Is CST certification required in San Diego?
Not by law. Sharp, Scripps and UC San Diego Health list the CST as preferred, while Kaiser's Zion Medical Center requires a CST or NCCT credential within six months of hire. Having it widens your options.
Where can I train as a surgical technologist in San Diego?
Southwestern College offers a one-year Surgical Technology program at its Higher Education Center at Otay Mesa in the South Bay. The program is nationally accredited through ARC/STSA and prepares graduates to sit for surgical technologist certification.
Do San Diego hospitals hire new surgical tech graduates?
Yes. Sharp accepts graduates of an accredited program within the past 12 months, Scripps accepts program completion in place of a year of experience, and Kaiser accepts recent completion of an OR training program.
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