Operating Room Technician Jobs in California
Operating Room Technician jobs in California are concentrated in hospital systems, ambulatory surgical centers, and specialty surgical practices, with demand running from entry-level CST graduates to senior scrub techs supporting complex cardiac, orthopedic, and neurosurgical cases. The largest concentrations of openings are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where established systems like Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Stanford Health Care maintain active surgical programs. Orthopedic, cardiovascular, and robotic-assisted surgery are among the most in-demand specialties across California hiring right now. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Make a significant impact with a world-class health system. Contribute to award-winning, Magnet™-designated patient care. Experience unequaled professional rewards. UCan do all this and more at UCLA Health.
Under minimal supervision, function primarily as a scrub and/or circulating nurse within the Outpatient Surgery Center Operating Room. Administrative and teaching responsibilities to be performed as necessary, including inventory, instrument set-ups and chart reviews. Implement appropriate nursing interventions on a consistent basis, relevant to an operating room arena. Function as a member of a team. Inherent duties include, but are not limited to, the proper care of instrumentation and equipment, utilization of all safety measures and the accurate completion of all documentation
Salary range: $65.76- $97.76
- BSN or MSN degree required.
- Current and valid California RN license
- A minimum of 2 years of circulate and scrub experience required
- Graduated of an accredited school of nursing with clinical skills applicable to nursing specialty, OR
- Current BLS from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross required.
- Writing skills to accurately document the operative procedure with all interventions; i.e., drug and supply dispensing, equipment measurements and team member presence
- Skills in setting priorities, organizing workload effectively and integrating multiple assignments with multilevel personnel
- Skill in speaking the English language with excellent medical/surgical terminology
- Ability to comply with department standards inclusive of: attendance, dress code and varied work
Make a significant impact with a world-class health system. Contribute to award-winning, Magnet™-designated patient care. Experience unequaled professional rewards. UCan do all this and more at UCLA Health.
Under minimal supervision, function primarily as a scrub and/or circulating nurse within the Outpatient Surgery Center Operating Room. Administrative and teaching responsibilities to be performed as necessary, including inventory, instrument set-ups and chart reviews. Implement appropriate nursing interventions on a consistent basis, relevant to an operating room arena. Function as a member of a team. Inherent duties include, but are not limited to, the proper care of instrumentation and equipment, utilization of all safety measures and the accurate completion of all documentation
Salary range: $65.76- $97.76
- BSN or MSN degree required.
- Current and valid California RN license
- A minimum of 2 years of circulate and scrub experience required
- Graduated of an accredited school of nursing with clinical skills applicable to nursing specialty, OR
- Current BLS from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross required.
- Writing skills to accurately document the operative procedure with all interventions; i.e., drug and supply dispensing, equipment measurements and team member presence
- Skills in setting priorities, organizing workload effectively and integrating multiple assignments with multilevel personnel
- Skill in speaking the English language with excellent medical/surgical terminology
- Ability to comply with department standards inclusive of: attendance, dress code and varied work
See All 139+ Operating Room Technician Jobs in California
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Find JobsOperating Room Technician Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Operating Room Technician Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Voyage Health16V
- American Traveler15
- SCA Health12
- Sutter Health12
- Kaiser Permanente11
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services13
- Science & Research3
- Technology & Software2
- Non-Profit & Social Services1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in operating room technician jobs across California.
- Active CST certification through NBSTSA or Tech in Surgery certification recognized in California
- Completion of an accredited surgical technology program or formal on-the-job training
- Proficiency in sterile technique and surgical instrument preparation and passing to surgeons
- Experience or clinical exposure in at least one high-volume specialty such as orthopedics or general surgery
- Ability to stand for extended periods and lift surgical equipment in a fast-paced OR environment
- Strong communication skills and ability to anticipate surgeon needs during live procedures
Operating Room Technician Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an operating room technician in California?
California does not issue a state license for operating room technicians, but most hospitals and surgical centers require national certification. The standard path is completing an accredited surgical technology program at a California community college or vocational school, then passing the Certified Surgical Technologist exam administered by the NBSTSA. Some facilities accept the Tech in Surgery credential offered through NCCT as an alternative. Employers increasingly expect certification before hiring, so completing a program before applying puts candidates in the strongest position.
Which companies hire operating room technicians in California?
California operating room technician roles are posted by Voyage Health, American Traveler, and SCA Health and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's large integrated health systems and ambulatory surgical center networks tend to post the highest volume of openings, particularly in the greater Los Angeles and Bay Area markets.
Which California cities have the most operating room technician jobs?
San Diego, Los Angeles, and Lodi have the most operating room technician openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its dense concentration of trauma centers, specialty surgical hospitals, and ambulatory surgery centers, while San Francisco and San Diego draw volume from major academic medical centers, large integrated systems, and a high density of specialty surgical practices serving growing metropolitan populations.
Are there remote operating room technician jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Operating room technicians work directly in sterile surgical fields, making the role almost entirely on-site by nature. About 33% of operating room technician openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to be administrative, training, or vendor-facing roles adjacent to surgical technology rather than direct scrub tech positions.
How can I get hired as an operating room technician in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing an accredited surgical technology program that includes a required clinical practicum, which places you inside an OR before graduation. Kaiser Permanente and large UC Health campuses regularly take on new CST graduates and students in externship rotations that can convert to employment. Candidates coming from adjacent roles such as surgical tech aide, central sterile processing technician, or OR orderly have a strong lateral path into scrub tech positions at California ambulatory surgical centers, which often have more flexibility on experience requirements than major hospital systems.
Where can I find and apply to operating room technician jobs in California?
You can find and apply to operating room technician jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search for roles by city or facility type, find the ones that match your certification level and specialty experience, and apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
See All 139+ Operating Room Technician Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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