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What to Pay a Surgical Technologist in Fresno, CA (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings
Market Median
$64,000
base, annual
Competitive Range
$56K–$74K
25th–75th percentile
YoY Movement
+3.8%
trailing 12 months
Days to Fill
~26
Fresno metro average
To hire a Surgical Technologist in Fresno at market, plan on a base salary range of $56,000 to $74,000, with $64,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 26 days, expect to lead at $74K–$84K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. California REQUIRES pay scale disclosure under SB 1162.

How to set your Surg Tech pay range in Fresno

Three pay positions, modeled against current Fresno market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market
Pay Below Median
$49K–$56K
Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Fresno average.
Match Market — recommended
Pay at Median
$60.8K–$68K
Default for most Fresno employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~26 days. A range width of ~30% (min $56,000 to max $74,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a Surg Tech's typical 8–12 year tenure.
Lead Market
Pay Above Median
$70K–$84K
Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

Surg Tech salary percentile distribution in Fresno, CA

Where the Fresno market actually sits for Surg Tech base pay.

10th $49K
25th $56K
Median $64K
75th $74K
90th $84K

Most Fresno employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($64,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $56,000 and a max of $74,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

California pay transparency compliance for Surg Tech job postings

What you must post when hiring a Surg Tech in California.

Required. California requires employers with 15+ employees to include the pay scale in every posting — internal, external, or third-party. SB 642 (2026) extended the requirement to bonuses and incentive pay.
Requirement Applies When Penalty for Non-Compliance
Pay scale in job posting 15+ employees, ≥1 in California $100–$10,000 per violation
Good-faith range (no inflated bands) All covered postings $100–$10,000 per violation; escalates for repeat
Include bonuses and incentive pay (SB 642) All covered postings from 2026 Same penalty schedule
Provide pay scale to current employees on request Any covered employer $100–$10,000 per violation
Maintain wage history records for 3 years All employers Presumption against employer in disputes

For a Surg Tech role in Fresno, a compliant good-faith range looks like $56,000 to $74,000. A good-faith range for this role is $56,000–$74,000. Ranges wider than ~50% have been challenged under CA enforcement actions.

Top Surg Tech employers in Fresno — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring Surg Techs in the Fresno metro and what they're posting.

Employer Type Disclosed Range Sign-on Bonus
Community Health System Health system $60K–$76K Very common ($8K–$15K)
Kaiser Permanente Integrated health system $60K–$76K Very common ($8K–$15K)
Saint Agnes Medical Center Health system $60K–$76K Very common ($8K–$15K)
Adventist Health Health system $60K–$76K Very common ($8K–$15K)
Valley Children's Healthcare Pediatric specialty $60K–$76K Very common ($8K–$15K)

Surg Tech talent supply and hiring difficulty in Fresno

How hard is it to fill a Surg Tech role in Fresno.

~26
Avg Days to Fill
~896
Active Postings
~3,840
Fresno Surg Tech Workforce
Tight
Supply : Demand

Fresno surgical technologist market centered on hospital OR, ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty surgery hospitals. Cardiothoracic and orthopedic sub-specialties command premiums.

Skill premiums Surg Tech candidates command in Fresno, CA

Skill / Credential Pay Premium Demand Signal
CST (Certified Surgical Technologist) Standard baseline Required
Cardiothoracic surgical tech +8–12% Very high
Orthopedic / joint replacement +6–10% High
Robotic surgery (da Vinci) certified +7–11% High and growing

Surg Tech total compensation in Fresno — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for Surg Techs in Fresno. "Prevalence" reflects share of Fresno disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component Typical Value Prevalence in Fresno Postings
Base salary $64,000 (median) 100%
Call pay (standby + callback) $4–$8/hr standby + 1.5× hourly ~86%
Sign-on bonus $4K–$9K ~64%
CST certification pay +5–8% on base ~54%
Overtime opportunity $6K–$13K annualized ~88%
Estimated total comp benchmark ~$78K–$92K

Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.

Surg Tech pay by setting in Fresno — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the Surg Tech range splits by employer type in the Fresno metro.

Setting Median Competitive Range Hiring Difficulty
General hospital OR $61,000 $55K–$70K High
Cardiothoracic surgery $69,000 $61K–$78K Very high
Orthopedic / joint replacement $67,000 $59K–$76K High
Ambulatory surgery center $60,000 $54K–$68K Moderate
Specialty surgery hospital $65,000 $58K–$73K High

FAQ: hiring a Surgical Technologist in Fresno, CA

Market median is $64,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $64,000 — typically $56,000 to $74,000. To lead the market, plan on $74K–$84K base plus a sign-on bonus.
Yes. SB 1162 requires a good-faith pay scale in every posting if you have 15+ employees with at least one in California. Penalties run $100–$10,000 per violation.
$57,000 falls below the Fresno market median of $64,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.
Roughly 64% of Fresno surgical tech postings include a sign-on bonus ($4K–$9K). Cardiothoracic and robotic-surgery-certified techs command the top premiums.
Average fill time is approximately 26 days in the Fresno metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($74K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($56K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.
By Fresno-metro posting volume: Community Health System, Kaiser Permanente, Saint Agnes Medical Center, Adventist Health, Valley Children's Healthcare lead the pack.
A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for Surg Tech in Fresno — for example, $56,000 to $74,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months. Wider than 50% has been challenged as not in good faith under California enforcement.
Yes. SB 1162 covers both internal and external postings. SB 642 (2026) also requires disclosure of expected bonuses and incentive pay.

Related Surg Tech pay benchmarks — California metros and nearby nursing roles

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.