Surgical Assistant Salary
Surgical Assistants earn a median $66,800 a year nationally. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
U.S. median
$66,800
$32.12 per hour
Range
$39,690 – $107,610
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
22,270
across the U.S.
Surgical Assistant take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$55,824
per year · effective tax rate 16.4%
$4,652Monthly
$2,326Twice a month
$2,147Every 2 weeks
$26.84Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,866
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,142
- Medicare (1.45%)$969
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$55,824
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,690 | $19.08 | $34,071 |
| 25th percentile | $50,170 | $24.12 | $42,492 |
| Median (50th) | $66,800 | $32.12 | $55,824 |
| 75th percentile | $88,010 | $42.31 | $70,745 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,610 | $51.74 | $84,534 |
Best cities for surgical assistants (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $87,080 | $70,091 | $67,990 | 490 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $80,210 | $61,432 | $59,300 | 2,090 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $60,410 | $48,239 | $44,303 | 680 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Dallas, TX — $87,080
- Chicago, IL — $80,210
- Washington, DC — $60,410
Surgical Assistant salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $123,390 | $88,083 | $59,030 – $145,780 | 90 |
| Arizona | $111,170 | $84,468 | $48,100 – $164,090 | — |
| Colorado | $107,440 | $80,395 | $76,330 – $125,260 | — |
| Nevada | $100,820 | $79,757 | $48,980 – $114,380 | 230 |
| New Jersey | $90,710 | $69,056 | $44,770 – $146,780 | — |
| South Carolina | $85,580 | $65,058 | $40,510 – $133,380 | 480 |
| Kentucky | $84,600 | $65,503 | $47,470 – $154,100 | 480 |
| Tennessee | $81,640 | $66,264 | $59,370 – $102,350 | 750 |
| Oregon | $80,450 | $59,217 | $61,960 – $127,010 | 220 |
| Illinois | $80,210 | $61,432 | $64,220 – $83,740 | 2,300 |
| Virginia | $78,910 | $60,620 | $47,760 – $127,140 | 1,000 |
| Wisconsin | $78,030 | $60,969 | $47,460 – $99,950 | 810 |
| New Hampshire | $77,670 | $63,471 | $50,170 – $165,110 | 130 |
| Ohio | $77,450 | $61,969 | $39,380 – $106,150 | 970 |
| Minnesota | $75,950 | $58,620 | $62,110 – $110,300 | 360 |
| Connecticut | $67,580 | $54,231 | $40,810 – $107,690 | 320 |
| Montana | $67,370 | $53,779 | $54,800 – $99,060 | 100 |
| Iowa | $66,030 | $53,378 | $49,330 – $102,420 | 30 |
| Washington | $65,440 | $54,761 | $41,740 – $102,600 | 100 |
| Texas | $64,930 | $54,351 | $36,750 – $102,890 | 2,840 |
| Florida | $62,550 | $52,439 | $41,100 – $130,030 | 1,260 |
| California | $62,540 | $49,816 | $56,100 – $72,030 | 1,210 |
| New Mexico | $62,010 | $50,256 | $45,380 – $82,730 | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $61,900 | $50,212 | $61,900 – $97,180 | — |
| Alaska | $61,210 | $51,362 | $43,140 – $78,000 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,550 | $48,973 | $43,080 – $107,750 | 240 |
| New York | $60,070 | $47,799 | $47,900 – $94,230 | 470 |
| North Carolina | $59,920 | $48,444 | $39,700 – $74,900 | 670 |
| Maryland | $58,130 | $46,490 | $49,310 – $112,540 | 670 |
| Kansas | $57,810 | $46,204 | $35,930 – $78,760 | 180 |
| Indiana | $56,620 | $46,033 | $39,320 – $97,380 | 690 |
| Idaho | $56,460 | $45,662 | $43,000 – $63,990 | — |
| Massachusetts | $56,430 | $44,920 | $36,340 – $62,060 | — |
| Michigan | $56,430 | $45,374 | $37,460 – $89,130 | 560 |
| Hawaii | $54,190 | $43,133 | $52,160 – $122,300 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $53,190 | $43,378 | $40,460 – $82,780 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $50,870 | $41,495 | $38,750 – $101,860 | 280 |
| Mississippi | $50,810 | $41,705 | $39,910 – $69,160 | 120 |
| Arkansas | $49,600 | $40,312 | $35,310 – $110,160 | 80 |
| Georgia | $49,520 | $40,022 | $37,820 – $109,530 | 840 |
| Missouri | $49,400 | $40,488 | $37,540 – $93,060 | 510 |
| Utah | $44,990 | $37,271 | $36,320 – $62,570 | 290 |
| Alabama | $41,710 | $33,873 | $31,280 – $47,460 | 470 |
| Oklahoma | $40,160 | $33,187 | $37,250 – $84,200 | 220 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surgical assistant make?
The national median salary for surgical assistants is $66,800 a year ($32.12 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,690 and the top 10% earn over $107,610. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays surgical assistants the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $123,390. After taxes and local prices, Dallas, TX offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many surgical assistants are there in the U.S.?
About 22,270 people work as surgical assistants nationwide.