Surgical assistants salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $66,800 | $32.11 |
| Mean (average) | $72,710 | $34.96 |
| 90th percentile | $107,610 | $51.74 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Surgical assistants pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 45 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,710 | $31,280 | $47,460 | 470 | 1.55 |
| Alaska | $61,210 | $43,140 | $78,000 | 60 | 1.19 |
| Arizona | $111,170 | $48,100 | $164,090 | ||
| Arkansas | $49,600 | $35,310 | $110,160 | 80 | 0.43 |
| California | $62,540 | $56,100 | $72,030 | 1,210 | 0.47 |
| Colorado | $107,440 | $76,330 | $125,260 | ||
| Connecticut | $67,580 | $40,810 | $107,690 | 320 | 1.32 |
| District of Columbia | $123,390 | $59,030 | $145,780 | 90 | 0.89 |
| Florida | $62,550 | $41,100 | $130,030 | 1,260 | 0.89 |
| Georgia | $49,520 | $37,820 | $109,530 | 840 | 1.21 |
| Hawaii | $54,190 | $52,160 | $122,300 | 70 | 0.83 |
| Idaho | $56,460 | $43,000 | $63,990 | ||
| Illinois | $80,210 | $64,220 | $83,740 | 2,300 | 2.63 |
| Indiana | $56,620 | $39,320 | $97,380 | 690 | 1.51 |
| Iowa | $66,030 | $49,330 | $102,420 | 30 | 0.15 |
| Kansas | $57,810 | $35,930 | $78,760 | 180 | 0.88 |
| Kentucky | $84,600 | $47,470 | $154,100 | 480 | 1.69 |
| Maryland | $58,130 | $49,310 | $112,540 | 670 | 1.69 |
| Massachusetts | $56,430 | $36,340 | $62,060 | ||
| Michigan | $56,430 | $37,460 | $89,130 | 560 | 0.89 |
| Minnesota | $75,950 | $62,110 | $110,300 | 360 | 0.86 |
| Mississippi | $50,810 | $39,910 | $69,160 | 120 | 0.7 |
| Missouri | $49,400 | $37,540 | $93,060 | 510 | 1.22 |
| Montana | $67,370 | $54,800 | $99,060 | 100 | 1.31 |
| Nebraska | $53,190 | $40,460 | $82,780 | 80 | 0.56 |
| Nevada | $100,820 | $48,980 | $114,380 | 230 | 1.03 |
| New Hampshire | $77,670 | $50,170 | $165,110 | 130 | 1.37 |
| New Jersey | $90,710 | $44,770 | $146,780 | ||
| New Mexico | $62,010 | $45,380 | $82,730 | 130 | 1.06 |
| New York | $60,070 | $47,900 | $94,230 | 470 | 0.34 |
| North Carolina | $59,920 | $39,700 | $74,900 | 670 | 0.95 |
| Ohio | $77,450 | $39,380 | $106,150 | 970 | 1.21 |
| Oklahoma | $40,160 | $37,250 | $84,200 | 220 | 0.9 |
| Oregon | $80,450 | $61,960 | $127,010 | 220 | 0.77 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,550 | $43,080 | $107,750 | 240 | 0.28 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,160 | $21,840 | $31,630 | 90 | 0.69 |
| Rhode Island | $61,900 | $61,900 | $97,180 | ||
| South Carolina | $85,580 | $40,510 | $133,380 | 480 | 1.45 |
| Tennessee | $81,640 | $59,370 | $102,350 | 750 | 1.6 |
| Texas | $64,930 | $36,750 | $102,890 | 2,840 | 1.41 |
| Utah | $44,990 | $36,320 | $62,570 | 290 | 1.16 |
| Virginia | $78,910 | $47,760 | $127,140 | 1,000 | 1.69 |
| Washington | $65,440 | $41,740 | $102,600 | 100 | 0.2 |
| West Virginia | $50,870 | $38,750 | $101,860 | 280 | 2.74 |
| Wisconsin | $78,030 | $47,460 | $99,950 | 810 | 1.93 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for surgical assistants
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 8.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for surgical assistants
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Surgical Technology/Technologist CIP 51.0909
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
- Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
- Pass instruments or supplies to surgeon during procedure.
- Assist with patient resuscitation during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events.
- Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
- Obtain or inspect sterile or non-sterile surgical equipment, instruments, or supplies.
- Assist members of surgical team with gowning or gloving.
- Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
Technology skills
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Nursing documentation software
- Patient scheduling software
- Patient tracking software
- Supply documentation software
- Surgery workflow communication software
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Operations Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Certified Surgical Technician (Certified Surgical Tech), CRNFA (Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant), CSA (Certified Surgical Assistant), CSFA (Certified Surgical First Assistant), GI Technician (Gastrointestinal Technician), RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant), Scrub Technician (Scrub Tech), Surgical First Assistant, Surgical Scrub Technician (Surgical Scrub Tech), Surgical Technician (Surgical Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do surgical assistants make?
The national median annual wage for surgical assistants was $66,800 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $39,690 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $107,610. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do surgical assistants need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is surgical assistants a growing career?
BLS projects employment of surgical assistants to change +6.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay surgical assistants the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($123,390), Arizona ($111,170), Colorado ($107,440). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.