Surgical Assistants Salary
The median surgical assistants salary in the United States is $66,800 per year ($32.11/hour). Salaries range from $39,690 at the entry level to $107,610+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 22,270 surgical assistants jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 5.1% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$66,800
per year
Hourly Rate
$32.11
per hour
Employment
22,270
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$39,690
25th percentile
$50,170
Median
$66,800
75th percentile
$88,010
90th percentile
$107,610
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+5.1%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
1,600
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Postsecondary nondegree award
Surgical Assistants Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$40K$123K■ No data
Top Paying States
District of Columbia
$123K
+85%
Arizona
$111K
+66%
Colorado
$107K
+61%
Nevada
$101K
+51%
New Jersey
$91K
+36%
South Carolina
$86K
+28%
Kentucky
$85K
+27%
Tennessee
$82K
+22%
Oregon
$80K
+20%
Illinois
$80K
+20%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $123,390 | +84.7% |
| Arizona | $111,170 | +66.4% |
| Colorado | $107,440 | +60.8% |
| Nevada | $100,820 | +50.9% |
| New Jersey | $90,710 | +35.8% |
| South Carolina | $85,580 | +28.1% |
| Kentucky | $84,600 | +26.6% |
| Tennessee | $81,640 | +22.2% |
| Oregon | $80,450 | +20.4% |
| Illinois | $80,210 | +20.1% |
Showing 1–10 of 44
Surgical Assistants Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $161,710 | +142.1% |
| Florence, SC | $133,380 | +99.7% |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $102,730 | +53.8% |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $102,330 | +53.2% |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $100,820 | +50.9% |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $99,530 | +49.0% |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $97,800 | +46.4% |
| El Paso, TX | $94,730 | +41.8% |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $93,380 | +39.8% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $88,570 | +32.6% |
Showing 1–10 of 90
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A surgical assistants earning $66,800/year would need 892 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 958 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how surgical assistants salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Surgical Assistants salary trend (2011–2024) →