| Weekly pay | Up to $2,200 on a 5x8 schedule of 40 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Shifts | Day/Evening/Night shifts available |
| Schedule | 5x8 (40 hours per week) |
| Credentials | Active credentials per facility requirements. California does not issue a state surgical technologist license; most facilities require CST certification (see below). |
| Extras | Weekly pay and a dedicated recruiter. Stipend and benefit details vary by contract, and your recruiter breaks down every package. Call (866) 680-2920. |
| Pay updated | June 2026 |
As a travel surgical technologist with We Care Staffing, you'll be the backbone of the operating room: preparing sterile fields, setting up instruments and equipment, anticipating the surgeon's next move, passing instruments, maintaining the sterile environment, and helping count and account for every item before closing. Good surg techs keep cases moving and surgeons calm, and experienced travelers who can walk into an unfamiliar OR and perform from day one are in constant demand.
Our California surgical technologist contracts span general surgery, orthopedics, cardiovascular, neuro, OB (C-sections), and outpatient surgery centers. Tell your recruiter which service lines you've scrubbed, and you'll be matched to cases that fit your experience.
Weekly pay with transparent breakdowns of taxable wages and tax-free stipends
A dedicated recruiter plus clinical support throughout your assignment
Referral benefits when you refer fellow healthcare professionals to We Care Staffing
Speak to our recruiter now.
California runs more operating rooms than any other state, and its surgical volume keeps climbing as the population ages. For surg techs, that means a deep, year-round market across academic centers, community hospitals, and the outpatient surgery centers that now handle a growing share of procedures.
Pay reflects the demand: California is consistently among the top-paying states for surgical technologists per BLS data, and travel contracts add stipend value on top. We Care Staffing's current California surg tech contracts pay up to $2,200 per week on a 5x8 schedule with day, evening, and night options.
$2,200
Max Weekly Pay
5x8
Schedule
40 hrs
Weekly Hours
Your weekly package combines a taxable hourly base rate with tax-free housing and meal stipends, available to travelers who maintain a qualifying tax home and duplicate living expenses. Stipend amounts follow federal GSA rates for your assignment city, and your recruiter shows you the realistic net for any contract before you sign.
California's state income tax is graduated and high, but it applies only to your taxable base wage, not your stipends. For benchmarking: Surgical technologists earn a national median of $62,830 per year per BLS May 2024 data, and certified techs (CST) typically earn 12 to 18% more. Travel contracts typically exceed staff equivalents once tax-free stipends are counted, and the figures above give you the floor to negotiate from.
Taxable Base Rate
Competitive hourly wage
Housing Stipend
Tax-free, GSA-based rates
Meal Stipend
Tax-free daily allowance
Weekly Pay
Transparent breakdown every week
California does not license surgical technologists at the state level, which means your CST certification from the NBSTSA is the credential that matters, and most California facilities require or strongly prefer it. That is good news for travelers: no state licensing wait between you and a start date. Verify facility-specific requirements with your recruiter, since academic centers sometimes layer on additional competency checks.
Speak to our recruiter now.
We Care Staffing places surgical technologists at facilities across California's major systems, including Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, UC Health, Cedars-Sinai, and Dignity Health. Demand concentrates in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento, with additional needs across the state's regional and community facilities.
"We-Care found me the perfect ER nurse assignment quickly. Their communication was fantastic throughout the entire process. I couldn't be happier!"
Jessica Miller
Travel Nurse
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
