Surgical assistant earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level surgical assistant earnings begin at:

$35.24 per hour

$73,300 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level surgical assistant earnings begin at:

$28.51 per hour

$59,300 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level surgical assistant earnings begin at:

$21.45 per hour

$44,610 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level surgical assistant earnings begin at:

$16.40 per hour

$34,110 per year

10th percentile

Starting level surgical assistant earnings begin at:

$13.43 per hour

$27,930 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 7% less than similar careers in Virginia. On average, they make less than physical therapist assistants but more than medical appliance technicians.

Career Median Salary
Physical therapist assistant salary $61K
Exercise physiologist salary $57K
Healthcare social worker salary $56K
Health educator salary $49K
Surgical technologist salary $48K
Neurodiagnostic technologist salary $45K
Ophthalmic medical technologist salary $45K
Surgical assistant salary $45K
Optician salary $46K
Medical appliance technician salary $39K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)