The average salary for a surgical assistant in the United States is around $42,920 per year.
Avg Salary
Surgical assistants earn an average yearly salary of $42,920.
Wages typically start from $28,130 and go up to $72,720.
29% below national average Updated in 2018
Surgical assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level surgical assistant earnings begin at:
$34.96 per hour
$72,720 per year
Senior-level surgical assistant earnings begin at:
$27.30 per hour
$56,780 per year
Mid-level surgical assistant earnings begin at:
$20.63 per hour
$42,920 per year
Junior-level surgical assistant earnings begin at:
$16.34 per hour
$33,980 per year
Starting level surgical assistant earnings begin at:
$13.53 per hour
$28,130 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Surgical assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $62,130 |
| Alaska | $59,740 |
| Washington | $56,290 |
| Minnesota | $53,770 |
| South Dakota | $53,550 |
| Rhode Island | $53,160 |
| Massachusetts | $53,080 |
| Oregon | $51,540 |
| New Jersey | $50,790 |
| Wyoming | $49,480 |
| New York | $49,260 |
| Hawaii | $49,160 |
| Idaho | $49,150 |
| Connecticut | $48,840 |
| District of Columbia | $48,280 |
| Kansas | $48,200 |
| Tennessee | $46,620 |
| Maine | $46,000 |
| Kentucky | $45,510 |
| Delaware | $45,370 |
| California | $44,850 |
| Vermont | $44,830 |
| Virginia | $44,610 |
| Georgia | $44,330 |
| Missouri | $44,170 |
| Illinois | $43,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,070 |
| Colorado | $42,870 |
| Nevada | $42,610 |
| New Hampshire | $42,380 |
| Arizona | $42,190 |
| Michigan | $41,970 |
| Indiana | $41,860 |
| Nebraska | $41,400 |
| Wisconsin | $41,290 |
| Maryland | $41,140 |
| North Dakota | $40,990 |
| Oklahoma | $40,660 |
| West Virginia | $40,310 |
| Iowa | $40,190 |
| South Carolina | $39,860 |
| Ohio | $39,350 |
| Texas | $39,180 |
| Alabama | $39,070 |
| Utah | $38,490 |
| Arkansas | $37,970 |
| Montana | $37,810 |
| Florida | $37,650 |
| North Carolina | $35,870 |
| Louisiana | $32,060 |
| Mississippi | $31,670 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,220 |
How much does a Surgical Assistant earn?
Surgical assistant salaries can vary greatly depending on experience, education, region, type of employer, and area of concentration (i.e., orthopedic, cardiovascular, or neurosurgery, etc.). According to a survey conducted by the Association of Surgical Assistants (ASA), the average base salary for the Surgical Assistant is approximately $50-60,000/yr. This salary report does not include call pay, shift differential, or overtime.
According to a survey published by the National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA), “entry level CSA's (less than one year of experience) typically started at a hospital at approximately $23-$25 an hour with increments up to $45 an hour as experience increased for those hospitals that pay hourly.” Many surgical assistants will have opportunities for salary increases through shift differential, on call, and overtime opportunities.
How do surgical assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Surgical assistants earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than exercise physiologists but more than medical records technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Exercise physiologist salary | $49K |
| Medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary | $46K |
| Nurse salary | $44K |
| Surgical technologist salary | $47K |
| Licensed practical nurse salary | $46K |
| Ophthalmic medical technologist salary | $43K |
| Neurodiagnostic technologist salary | $43K |
| Surgical assistant salary | $43K |
| Ski patroller salary | $29K |
| Medical records technician salary | $40K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)