San Francisco is home to major academic medical centers and specialized surgical hospitals that regularly hire surgical technologists. This page highlights surgical tech jobs in San Francisco and provides helpful insights into local employers, salaries, and training paths.
Below you’ll find the latest surgical tech, scrub tech, and operating room technician jobs currently available in San Francisco.
San Francisco’s healthcare sector includes several nationally recognized hospitals and surgical networks. Major employers that frequently hire surgical technologists include UCSF Medical Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center, and California Pacific Medical Center.
These organizations operate high-volume operating rooms and advanced surgical programs, creating strong demand for scrub techs, OR techs, and certified surgical technologists across the metro area.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, surgical technologists in California earn a mean annual wage of $76,170, with about 11,100 surgical technologists employed statewide.
Actual pay in the San Francisco area varies based on experience, certification status, surgical specialty, and whether you work in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center. Large academic medical centers and specialty hospitals often offer the most competitive salaries.
California does not require a state license for surgical technologists. However, many healthcare employers prefer or require candidates to hold the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential and graduate from an accredited surgical technology program.
Certification can help improve job opportunities and advancement in competitive hospital systems.
Most surgical technologists complete an accredited surgical technology program that typically takes 12 to 24 months. Programs accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES combine classroom instruction with clinical training in operating rooms.
Community colleges and technical schools throughout the Bay Area offer programs that prepare students for entry-level scrub tech and operating room technician roles.
San Francisco has one of the highest costs of living in the United States, particularly for housing. However, the region’s higher healthcare wages can help offset living costs, especially for experienced certified surgical technologists working in major hospital systems.
Explore active roles in San Francisco.