Surgical assistant salary
BLS occupation: Surgical Assistants · Healthcare practitioners · data for May 2025
Median salary $66,800 a year, US
Median hourly pay $32.11 an hour
Middle half earn $50,170–$88,010 25th to 75th percentile
Surgical assistants employed 22,270 +6.1% projected by 2035
How much does a surgical assistant make?
- The median surgical assistant salary in the US is $66,800 a year ($32.11 an hour): half of the 22,270 surgical assistants BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $72,710.
- The middle half earn between $50,170 and $88,010. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $39,690 and the top 10% more than $107,610.
- That is 31% more than the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- The District of Columbia pays surgical assistants the most (median $123,390), followed by Arizona ($111,170) and Colorado ($107,440). Oklahoma pays the least ($40,160).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in the District of Columbia, where the median is worth $112,274 in typical US prices, then Arizona and Colorado.
- In 45 of the 88 metro areas with data, the median surgical assistant salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of surgical assistants to grow 6.1% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 1,400 openings a year. The typical entry education is a postsecondary certificate (a nondegree award).
official From BLS's survey of employers: what surgical assistants are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Surgical assistant salary range
Half of surgical assistants earn between $50,170 and $88,010 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Lowest 10% earn under Yearly pay: $39,690
Lowest 25% earn under Yearly pay: $50,170
Median Yearly pay: $66,800
Top 25% earn over Yearly pay: $88,010
Top 10% earn over Yearly pay: $107,610
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $39,690 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $50,170 |
| Median | $66,800 |
| Top 25% earn over | $88,010 |
| Top 10% earn over | $107,610 |
Surgical assistant salary by state
The District of Columbia pays surgical assistants the most; Oklahoma the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($66,800), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.
- 20%+ below US
- 10–20% below
- 3–10% below
- Within 3%
- 3–10% above
- 10–20% above
- 20%+ above US
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $123,390 median |
| Arizona | $111,170 median |
| Colorado | $107,440 median |
| Nevada | $100,820 median |
| New Jersey | $90,710 median |
| South Carolina | $85,580 median |
| Kentucky | $84,600 median |
| Tennessee | $81,640 median |
| Oregon | $80,450 median |
| Illinois | $80,210 median |
| Virginia | $78,910 median |
| Wisconsin | $78,030 median |
| New Hampshire | $77,670 median |
| Ohio | $77,450 median |
| Minnesota | $75,950 median |
| Connecticut | $67,580 median |
| Montana | $67,370 median |
| Iowa | $66,030 median |
| Washington | $65,440 median |
| Texas | $64,930 median |
| Florida | $62,550 median |
| California | $62,540 median |
| New Mexico | $62,010 median |
| Rhode Island | $61,900 median |
| Alaska | $61,210 median |
| Pennsylvania | $60,550 median |
| New York | $60,070 median |
| North Carolina | $59,920 median |
| Maryland | $58,130 median |
| Kansas | $57,810 median |
| Indiana | $56,620 median |
| Idaho | $56,460 median |
| Massachusetts | $56,430 median |
| Michigan | $56,430 median |
| Hawaii | $54,190 median |
| Nebraska | $53,190 median |
| West Virginia | $50,870 median |
| Mississippi | $50,810 median |
| Arkansas | $49,600 median |
| Georgia | $49,520 median |
| Missouri | $49,400 median |
| Utah | $44,990 median |
| Alabama | $41,710 median |
| Oklahoma | $40,160 median |
Where surgical assistant pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Surgical assistants' pay goes furthest in the District of Columbia once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $112,274 |
| Arizona | $110,422 |
| Colorado | $104,258 |
| Nevada | $100,841 |
| Kentucky | $93,834 |
| South Carolina | $91,286 |
| Tennessee | $88,865 |
| Ohio | $83,482 |
| New Jersey | $83,369 |
| Wisconsin | $82,927 |
Surgical assistant pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $123,390 | $59.32 | $59,030 | $145,780 | 90 | $112,274 |
| Arizona | $111,170 | $53.45 | $48,100 | $164,090 | – | $110,422 |
| Colorado | $107,440 | $51.65 | $76,330 | $125,260 | – | $104,258 |
| Nevada | $100,820 | $48.47 | $48,980 | $114,380 | 230 | $100,841 |
| New Jersey | $90,710 | $43.61 | $44,770 | $146,780 | – | $83,369 |
| South Carolina | $85,580 | $41.14 | $40,510 | $133,380 | 480 | $91,286 |
| Kentucky | $84,600 | $40.67 | $47,470 | $154,100 | 480 | $93,834 |
| Tennessee | $81,640 | $39.25 | $59,370 | $102,350 | 750 | $88,865 |
| Oregon | $80,450 | $38.68 | $61,960 | $127,010 | 220 | $77,834 |
| Illinois | $80,210 | $38.56 | $64,220 | $83,740 | 2,300 | $80,244 |
| Virginia | $78,910 | $37.94 | $47,760 | $127,140 | 1,000 | $78,048 |
| Wisconsin | $78,030 | $37.51 | $47,460 | $99,950 | 810 | $82,927 |
| New Hampshire | $77,670 | $37.34 | $50,170 | $165,110 | 130 | $74,564 |
| Ohio | $77,450 | $37.24 | $39,380 | $106,150 | 970 | $83,482 |
| Minnesota | $75,950 | $36.51 | $62,110 | $110,300 | 360 | $77,012 |
| Connecticut | $67,580 | $32.49 | $40,810 | $107,690 | 320 | $65,225 |
| Montana | $67,370 | $32.39 | $54,800 | $99,060 | 100 | $71,182 |
| Iowa | $66,030 | $31.75 | $49,330 | $102,420 | 30 | $75,238 |
| Washington | $65,440 | $31.46 | $41,740 | $102,600 | 100 | $61,151 |
| Texas | $64,930 | $31.22 | $36,750 | $102,890 | 2,840 | $66,899 |
| Florida | $62,550 | $30.07 | $41,100 | $130,030 | 1,260 | $60,485 |
| California | $62,540 | $30.07 | $56,100 | $72,030 | 1,210 | $56,485 |
| New Mexico | $62,010 | $29.81 | $45,380 | $82,730 | 130 | $67,247 |
| Rhode Island | $61,900 | $29.76 | $61,900 | $97,180 | – | $60,520 |
| Alaska | $61,210 | $29.43 | $43,140 | $78,000 | 60 | $59,799 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,550 | $29.11 | $43,080 | $107,750 | 240 | $62,057 |
| New York | $60,070 | $28.88 | $47,900 | $94,230 | 470 | $55,661 |
| North Carolina | $59,920 | $28.81 | $39,700 | $74,900 | 670 | $63,524 |
| Maryland | $58,130 | $27.95 | $49,310 | $112,540 | 670 | $55,384 |
| Kansas | $57,810 | $27.79 | $35,930 | $78,760 | 180 | $64,185 |
| Indiana | $56,620 | $27.22 | $39,320 | $97,380 | 690 | $60,667 |
| Idaho | $56,460 | $27.14 | $43,000 | $63,990 | – | $59,124 |
| Massachusetts | $56,430 | $27.13 | $36,340 | $62,060 | – | $53,358 |
| Michigan | $56,430 | $27.13 | $37,460 | $89,130 | 560 | $58,649 |
| Hawaii | $54,190 | $26.05 | $52,160 | $122,300 | 70 | $49,286 |
| Nebraska | $53,190 | $25.57 | $40,460 | $82,780 | 80 | $59,032 |
| West Virginia | $50,870 | $24.46 | $38,750 | $101,860 | 280 | $56,840 |
| Mississippi | $50,810 | $24.43 | $39,910 | $69,160 | 120 | $58,434 |
| Arkansas | $49,600 | $23.85 | $35,310 | $110,160 | 80 | $57,053 |
| Georgia | $49,520 | $23.81 | $37,820 | $109,530 | 840 | $51,426 |
| Missouri | $49,400 | $23.75 | $37,540 | $93,060 | 510 | $54,395 |
| Utah | $44,990 | $21.63 | $36,320 | $62,570 | 290 | $45,507 |
| Alabama | $41,710 | $20.05 | $31,280 | $47,460 | 470 | $46,959 |
| Oklahoma | $40,160 | $19.31 | $37,250 | $84,200 | 220 | $45,718 |
BLS does not publish pay for surgical assistants in 7 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Surgical assistant salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes surgical assistant pay: 88 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- Phoenix, AZ $161,710
- Florence, SC $133,380
- Cincinnati, OH $102,730
- Lexington, KY $102,330
- Las Vegas, NV $100,820
- Virginia Beach, VA $99,530
- Canton, OH $97,800
- El Paso, TX $94,730
- Austin, TX $93,380
- Colorado Springs, CO $88,570
Where the pay goes furthest
- Phoenix, AZ $156,520
- Florence, SC $153,710
- Lexington, KY $110,164
- Canton, OH $109,389
- Cincinnati, OH $107,717
- El Paso, TX $105,359
- Virginia Beach, VA $101,622
- Las Vegas, NV $100,604
- Austin, TX $95,222
- Dayton, OH $91,430
All 88 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | $161,710 | – | $156,520 | 13% |
| Florence, SC | $133,380 | 200 | $153,710 | 14% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $102,730 | 200 | $107,717 | 18% |
| Lexington, KY | $102,330 | 100 | $110,164 | 19% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $100,820 | 200 | $100,604 | 21% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $99,530 | 270 | $101,622 | 23% |
| Canton, OH | $97,800 | 70 | $109,389 | 14% |
| El Paso, TX | $94,730 | 60 | $105,359 | 19% |
| Austin, TX | $93,380 | 110 | $95,222 | 21% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $88,570 | 40 | $87,948 | 24% |
| Dallas, TX | $87,080 | 490 | $84,470 | 23% |
| Nashville, TN | $87,080 | 340 | $90,390 | 25% |
| Portland, OR | $86,890 | 120 | $82,422 | 25% |
| Dayton, OH | $84,750 | 60 | $91,430 | 19% |
| Deltona, FL | $84,460 | 40 | $84,998 | 25% |
| Boulder, CO | $83,030 | 30 | $78,924 | 32% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $81,690 | 420 | $84,271 | 23% |
| Greenville, SC | $80,800 | 30 | $86,640 | 23% |
| Memphis, TN | $80,740 | 90 | $87,590 | 21% |
| Seattle, WA | $80,550 | 50 | $72,481 | 34% |
| Chicago, IL | $80,210 | 2,090 | $77,427 | 32% |
| Amarillo, TX | $79,820 | – | $86,931 | 20% |
| Orlando, FL | $79,240 | 160 | $78,132 | 29% |
| San Antonio, TX | $79,110 | 230 | $83,523 | 21% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $78,980 | 50 | $84,342 | 26% |
| Miami, FL | $78,240 | 290 | $68,538 | 41% |
| Springfield, IL | $78,210 | – | $84,328 | 19% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $78,050 | 70 | $78,455 | 26% |
| McAllen, TX | $77,980 | 130 | $90,785 | 17% |
| Chattanooga, TN | $77,570 | 110 | $84,809 | 23% |
| Rochester, MN | $76,880 | 40 | $84,650 | 25% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $75,950 | 230 | $72,456 | 27% |
| Salem, OR | $75,710 | 30 | $73,045 | 26% |
| Duluth, MN | $75,470 | 40 | $85,019 | 21% |
| Lubbock, TX | $74,880 | 40 | $82,000 | 21% |
| Champaign, IL | $74,490 | 40 | $80,353 | 22% |
| Cleveland, OH | $74,140 | 280 | $78,937 | 23% |
| St. Louis, MO | $74,080 | 130 | $77,907 | 23% |
| Madison, WI | $73,200 | 70 | $75,241 | 29% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $72,030 | – | $63,426 | 49% |
| Hartford, CT | $67,580 | 40 | $65,774 | 35% |
| Raleigh, NC | $67,210 | – | $68,472 | 30% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $67,080 | – | $65,409 | 34% |
| Appleton, WI | $66,480 | – | $71,933 | 22% |
| Oshkosh, WI | $66,030 | 50 | $71,054 | 23% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $65,910 | 110 | $71,199 | 23% |
| Kingsport, TN | $65,260 | 30 | $75,491 | 24% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $65,200 | 60 | $68,239 | 27% |
| Akron, OH | $65,130 | 80 | $69,755 | 24% |
| Huntington, WV | $63,740 | 70 | $72,086 | 20% |
| Houston, TX | $62,990 | – | $63,866 | 31% |
| New York, NY | $62,990 | – | $55,960 | 68% |
| Pensacola, FL | $62,550 | 30 | $64,011 | 33% |
| Anchorage, AK | $61,210 | 40 | $58,063 | 37% |
| Atlanta, GA | $60,720 | 370 | $60,685 | 36% |
| Washington, DC | $60,410 | 680 | $55,481 | 48% |
| North Port, FL | $59,930 | – | $58,516 | 42% |
| Greensboro, NC | $59,920 | – | $64,524 | 28% |
| Charleston, SC | $58,710 | 60 | $58,151 | 42% |
| Boston, MA | $58,370 | 430 | $53,914 | 61% |
| Providence, RI | $56,160 | 140 | $55,182 | 46% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $56,120 | 250 | $58,644 | 33% |
| Honolulu, HI | $54,190 | 70 | $48,837 | 67% |
| Baltimore, MD | $53,990 | 200 | $51,671 | 43% |
| Charlotte, NC | $52,890 | 150 | $54,331 | 39% |
| Tampa, FL | $51,420 | – | $50,966 | 46% |
| Louisville, KY | $51,350 | 140 | $55,171 | 31% |
| Richmond, VA | $51,030 | 340 | $52,147 | 40% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $50,980 | 100 | $50,541 | 39% |
| Gulfport, MS | $50,810 | 80 | $56,452 | 34% |
| Ocala, FL | $50,650 | 30 | $53,185 | 38% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $50,410 | – | $53,248 | 35% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $49,440 | 70 | $46,264 | 70% |
| Detroit, MI | $48,570 | 350 | $48,426 | 37% |
| Gainesville, GA | $48,540 | 60 | $50,162 | 42% |
| Columbia, SC | $48,160 | 70 | $51,419 | 39% |
| Parkersburg, WV | $48,120 | 30 | $55,268 | 27% |
| Wichita, KS | $47,830 | 50 | $53,774 | 30% |
| Springfield, MA | $47,350 | 70 | $49,292 | 50% |
| Midland, TX | $47,130 | 40 | $49,205 | 40% |
| Columbus, OH | $46,270 | 180 | $48,466 | 40% |
| Macon, GA | $45,910 | 30 | $51,859 | 32% |
| Athens, GA | $45,390 | 40 | $48,627 | 47% |
| Greenville, NC | $40,950 | 30 | $46,322 | 43% |
| Tulsa, OK | $40,160 | 120 | $45,015 | 41% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $39,090 | 80 | $43,237 | 42% |
| Savannah, GA | $38,320 | 60 | $40,250 | 55% |
| Springfield, MO | $37,540 | 60 | $42,377 | 40% |
What the median surgical assistant salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $66,800 |
| Month | $5,567 |
| Every two weeks | $2,569 |
| Week | $1,285 |
| Hour | $32.11 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming a surgical assistant: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | None |
| On-the-job training | None |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +6.1% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 1,400 |
| Self-employed | 8.1% |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Similar jobs
| Job | Median a year | Typical education |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 | Associate's degree |
| Vet tech | $47,380 | Associate's degree |
| Speech-language pathologist | $97,870 | Master's degree |
| Physician assistant | $135,880 | Master's degree |
| Nurse practitioner | $132,300 | Master's degree |
| Medical lab tech | $62,930 | Bachelor's degree |
| MRI tech | $95,480 | Associate's degree |
| CRNA | $236,590 | Master's degree |
Questions about surgical assistant pay
How much does a surgical assistant make an hour?
The median is $32.11 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $19.08 and the top 10% over $51.74.
How much does a surgical assistant make a month?
About $5,567 a month before taxes at the median salary of $66,800, or $2,569 every two weeks.
What state pays surgical assistants the most?
The District of Columbia, with a median of $123,390. Arizona ($111,170), Colorado ($107,440), Nevada ($100,820) and New Jersey ($90,710) follow.
Where do surgical assistants make the most after cost of living?
The District of Columbia: its median of $123,390 is worth $112,274 at typical US prices. Arizona, Colorado and Nevada come next.
How much do entry-level surgical assistants make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of surgical assistants earn under $39,690 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $50,170, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become a surgical assistant?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a postsecondary certificate (a nondegree award). Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: none.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 29-9093 (Surgical Assistants). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.