How much does a surgical assistant make?
The median surgical assistant in the United States earns $66,800 per year, about $32.11 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all surgical assistants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-9093.
Surgical assistant salary range
Pay for surgical assistants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $39,690 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $107,610. The average (mean) wage of $72,710 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,690 | $19.08 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $50,170 | $24.12 | |
| Median (50th) | $66,800 | $32.11 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $88,010 | $42.31 | |
| 90th percentile | $107,610 | $51.74 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for surgical assistants (SOC 29-9093), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Surgical assistant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Surgical assistants earn the most in District of Columbia at $123,390 a year, and the least in Oklahoma at $40,160. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $123,390 | 90 |
| Arizona | $111,170 | N/A |
| Colorado | $107,440 | N/A |
| Nevada | $100,820 | 230 |
| New Jersey | $90,710 | N/A |
| South Carolina | $85,580 | 480 |
| Kentucky | $84,600 | 480 |
| Tennessee | $81,640 | 750 |
| Oregon | $80,450 | 220 |
| Illinois | $80,210 | 2,300 |
| Virginia | $78,910 | 1,000 |
| Wisconsin | $78,030 | 810 |
| New Hampshire | $77,670 | 130 |
| Ohio | $77,450 | 970 |
| Minnesota | $75,950 | 360 |
| Connecticut | $67,580 | 320 |
| Montana | $67,370 | 100 |
| Iowa | $66,030 | 30 |
| Washington | $65,440 | 100 |
| Texas | $64,930 | 2,840 |
| Florida | $62,550 | 1,260 |
| California | $62,540 | 1,210 |
| New Mexico | $62,010 | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $61,900 | N/A |
| Alaska | $61,210 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,550 | 240 |
| New York | $60,070 | 470 |
| North Carolina | $59,920 | 670 |
| Maryland | $58,130 | 670 |
| Kansas | $57,810 | 180 |
| Indiana | $56,620 | 690 |
| Idaho | $56,460 | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $56,430 | N/A |
| Michigan | $56,430 | 560 |
| Hawaii | $54,190 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $53,190 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $50,870 | 280 |
| Mississippi | $50,810 | 120 |
| Arkansas | $49,600 | 80 |
| Georgia | $49,520 | 840 |
| Missouri | $49,400 | 510 |
| Utah | $44,990 | 290 |
| Alabama | $41,710 | 470 |
| Oklahoma | $40,160 | 220 |
State median wages for surgical assistants (SOC 29-9093), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for surgical assistants
The BLS projects employment of surgical assistants to grow 6.1% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 24,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 25,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,400 openings a year for surgical assistants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a surgical assistant
The typical entry-level education for surgical assistants is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a surgical assistant earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $123,390) and the lowest (Oklahoma, $40,160) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 22,270 people work as surgical assistants in the United States. At $66,800 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Surgical assistant salary FAQ
How much does a surgical assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a surgical assistant is $32.11. The middle half of surgical assistants earn between $24.12 and $42.31 per hour.
What is the highest surgical assistant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of surgical assistants earn more than $107,610 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a surgical assistant make a year?
The median annual salary for a surgical assistant is $66,800. The average (mean) wage of $72,710 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a surgical assistant a well paid job?
At $66,800 a year, a surgical assistant earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 22,270 people work as surgical assistants in the United States.
Which state pays surgical assistants the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for surgical assistants at $123,390 a year. Arizona ($111,170) and Colorado ($107,440) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a surgical assistant a good career?
Employment of surgical assistants is projected to grow 6.1% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a surgical assistant?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for surgical assistants as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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