Surgical Assistant salary
What surgical assistants earn across the U.S., in every state and in the top-paying metro areas.
Median pay$66,800$32.11 per hour
Average pay$72,710$34.96 per hour
Middle half earn$50,170 – $88,010Top 10%: $107,610+
Jobs22,270Employed nationwide
Surgical Assistant salary by state
Click a column to sort. Select a state for its cities.
| State | Median | Hourly | Jobs | Per 1,000 jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,710 | $20.05 | 470 | 0.22 |
| Alaska | $61,210 | $29.43 | 60 | 0.17 |
| Arizona | $111,170 | $53.45 | – | – |
| Arkansas | $49,600 | $23.85 | 80 | 0.06 |
| California | $62,540 | $30.07 | 1,210 | 0.07 |
| Colorado | $107,440 | $51.65 | – | – |
| Connecticut | $67,580 | $32.49 | 320 | 0.19 |
| Florida | $62,550 | $30.07 | 1,260 | 0.13 |
| Georgia | $49,520 | $23.81 | 840 | 0.17 |
| Hawaii | $54,190 | $26.06 | 70 | 0.12 |
| Idaho | $56,460 | $27.14 | – | – |
| Illinois | $80,210 | $38.56 | 2,300 | 0.38 |
| Indiana | $56,620 | $27.22 | 690 | 0.22 |
| Iowa | $66,030 | $31.75 | 30 | 0.02 |
| Kansas | $57,810 | $27.80 | 180 | 0.13 |
| Kentucky | $84,600 | $40.67 | 480 | 0.24 |
| Maryland | $58,130 | $27.95 | 670 | 0.24 |
| Massachusetts | $56,430 | $27.13 | – | – |
| Michigan | $56,430 | $27.13 | 560 | 0.13 |
| Minnesota | $75,950 | $36.52 | 360 | 0.12 |
| Mississippi | $50,810 | $24.43 | 120 | 0.1 |
| Missouri | $49,400 | $23.75 | 510 | 0.18 |
| Montana | $67,370 | $32.39 | 100 | 0.19 |
| Nebraska | $53,190 | $25.57 | 80 | 0.08 |
| Nevada | $100,820 | $48.47 | 230 | 0.15 |
| New Hampshire | $77,670 | $37.34 | 130 | 0.2 |
| New Jersey | $90,710 | $43.61 | – | – |
| New Mexico | $62,010 | $29.81 | 130 | 0.15 |
| New York | $60,070 | $28.88 | 470 | 0.05 |
| North Carolina | $59,920 | $28.81 | 670 | 0.14 |
| Ohio | $77,450 | $37.24 | 970 | 0.17 |
| Oklahoma | $40,160 | $19.31 | 220 | 0.13 |
| Oregon | $80,450 | $38.68 | 220 | 0.11 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,550 | $29.11 | 240 | 0.04 |
| Rhode Island | $61,900 | $29.76 | – | – |
| South Carolina | $85,580 | $41.15 | 480 | 0.21 |
| Tennessee | $81,640 | $39.25 | 750 | 0.23 |
| Texas | $64,930 | $31.22 | 2,840 | 0.2 |
| Utah | $44,990 | $21.63 | 290 | 0.17 |
| Virginia | $78,910 | $37.94 | 1,000 | 0.24 |
| Washington | $65,440 | $31.46 | 100 | 0.03 |
| West Virginia | $50,870 | $24.46 | 280 | 0.39 |
| Wisconsin | $78,030 | $37.51 | 810 | 0.28 |
Top-paying metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Florence, SC | $133,380 | 200 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $102,730 | 200 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $102,330 | 100 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $100,820 | 200 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $99,530 | 270 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $97,800 | 70 |
| El Paso, TX | $94,730 | 60 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $93,380 | 110 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $87,080 | 490 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $87,080 | 340 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $86,890 | 120 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $84,750 | 60 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $81,690 | 420 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $80,740 | 90 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,550 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most surgical assistants
| Metro area | Jobs | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,090 | $80,210 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 680 | $60,410 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 490 | $87,080 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 430 | $58,370 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 420 | $81,690 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 370 | $60,720 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 350 | $48,570 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 340 | $87,080 |
| Richmond, VA | 340 | $51,030 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 290 | $78,240 |
| Cleveland, OH | 280 | $74,140 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 270 | $99,530 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 250 | $56,120 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 230 | $75,950 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 230 | $79,110 |
Related jobs
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Questions
How much does a surgical assistant make?
The median pay for surgical assistants in the U.S. was $66,800 a year ($32.11 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $50,170 and $88,010.
Which states pay surgical assistants the most?
The highest pay was in Arizona ($111,170), Colorado ($107,440), Nevada ($100,820), New Jersey ($90,710), South Carolina ($85,580). The lowest was in Oklahoma ($40,160), Alabama ($41,710), Utah ($44,990).
How many surgical assistants are there in the U.S.?
About 22,270 people were employed as surgical assistants in May 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Metro areas with fewer than 50 jobs in this occupation are left out. All healthcare salaries.