SOC 299093

Surgical Assistants

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. May, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant surgical devices or drains, suction the surgical site, place catheters, clamp or cauterize vessels or tissue, and apply dressings to surgical site. Excludes "Registered Nurses" (29-1141) and "Surgical Technologists" (29-2055).

National Median

$60,290

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$60,290

Entry Level (10th pct)

$39,540

Experienced (90th pct)

$102,390

Total Employed

22,860

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$39,540 - $49,140
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$49,140 - $80,860
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$80,860 - $102,390

Highest Paying Locations for Surgical Assistants

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

$116,140

+92.6% vs national

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

$115,610

+91.8% vs national

Nevada

$110,020

+82.5% vs national

Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV

$110,020

+82.5% vs national

Arizona

$107,500

+78.3% vs national

Surgical Assistants Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$116,140	100
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$115,610	N/A
Nevada	$110,020	N/A
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$110,020	N/A
Arizona	$107,500	N/A
District of Columbia	$105,080	110
Minnesota	$100,000	180
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$98,910	290
South Carolina	$98,340	520
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$96,150	100
Duluth, MN-WI	$92,160	30
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$90,210	120
Fort Wayne, IN	$89,600	N/A
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$89,120	150
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$88,910	450
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$86,530	40
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$84,190	70
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$83,660	720
Kentucky	$81,710	360
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$80,850	230
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$79,720	40
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$79,610	180
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$78,800	170
Tennessee	$78,330	1,010
Amarillo, TX	$78,090	40
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$77,750	140
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$77,650	60
Jacksonville, FL	$77,600	N/A
Texas	$76,510	2,770
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC	$76,210	40
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$75,180	110
Lubbock, TX	$75,070	40
New Hampshire	$74,880	210
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$74,150	140
New Jersey	$73,600	190
Wisconsin	$71,630	630
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$69,440	N/A
Washington	$69,060	120
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$65,150	270
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$64,910	250
Montana	$64,810	100
Pennsylvania	$64,670	500
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$64,350	N/A
West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area	$64,060	30
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$63,400	60
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$63,390	30
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$63,260	240
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$63,210	300
Bend, OR	$62,640	N/A
Madison, WI	$62,540	N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Surgical Assistants?

The national median annual salary for Surgical Assistants is $60,290, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Surgical Assistantss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Surgical Assistantss is Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, with a median salary of $116,140.

How much can an experienced Surgical Assistants make?

Top-earning Surgical Assistantss (90th percentile) make $102,390 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.