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Top 15 cities for surgical assistants by average salary
| Phoenix, AZ | $141,940 |
|---|---|
| Lexington, KY | $115,640 |
| Florence, SC | $115,420 |
| Boulder, CO | $101,340 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $98,860 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $96,400 |
| Canton, OH | $95,030 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $93,890 |
| Portland, OR | $93,690 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $93,600 |
| Austin, TX | $88,140 |
| Nashville, TN | $87,360 |
| El Paso, TX | $86,000 |
| Dallas, TX | $85,960 |
| Deltona, FL | $84,800 |
Map: Surgical Assistants salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Surgical Assistants salary by state
Washington, D.C. pays surgical assistants the most statewide, $110,920 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | $110,920 | $123,390 | 90 | 1 | $82,880 | $82,880 |
| Colorado | $106,660 | $107,440 | n/a | 2 | $101,340 | $93,600 |
| Arizona | $101,840 | $111,170 | n/a | 1 | $141,940 | $141,940 |
| New Jersey | $97,840 | $90,710 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $92,410 | $77,670 | 130 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nevada | $91,760 | $100,820 | 230 | 1 | $96,400 | $96,400 |
| Oregon | $91,610 | $80,450 | 220 | 2 | $93,690 | $81,320 |
| Kentucky | $89,380 | $84,600 | 480 | 2 | $115,640 | $68,430 |
| South Carolina | $85,590 | $85,580 | 480 | 5 | $115,420 | $51,830 |
| Tennessee | $82,720 | $81,640 | 750 | 4 | $87,360 | $66,190 |
| Virginia | $82,280 | $78,910 | 1,000 | 2 | $93,890 | $72,600 |
| Minnesota | $80,990 | $75,950 | 360 | 3 | $82,110 | $77,200 |
| Illinois | $78,760 | $80,210 | 2,300 | 3 | $78,390 | $74,830 |
| Florida | $75,960 | $62,550 | 1,260 | 8 | $84,800 | $62,690 |
| Wisconsin | $75,650 | $78,030 | 810 | 4 | $79,710 | $68,710 |
| Connecticut | $74,490 | $67,580 | 320 | 2 | $72,030 | $60,360 |
| Ohio | $74,350 | $77,450 | 970 | 6 | $98,860 | $62,280 |
| Montana | $72,500 | $67,370 | 100 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington | $71,820 | $65,440 | 100 | 1 | $81,360 | $81,360 |
| Maryland | $70,930 | $58,130 | 670 | 1 | $72,770 | $72,770 |
| Texas | $70,810 | $64,930 | 2,840 | 9 | $88,140 | $52,710 |
| Hawaii | $70,720 | $54,190 | 70 | 1 | $69,660 | $69,660 |
| Rhode Island | $70,010 | $61,900 | n/a | 1 | $58,590 | $58,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,150 | $60,550 | 240 | 2 | $78,000 | $53,650 |
| California | $67,860 | $62,540 | 1,210 | 1 | $67,600 | $67,600 |
| Arkansas | $67,290 | $49,600 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Iowa | $65,780 | $66,030 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New York | $64,100 | $60,070 | 470 | 1 | $74,070 | $74,070 |
| Indiana | $62,710 | $56,620 | 690 | 2 | $70,210 | $65,530 |
| Alaska | $62,580 | $61,210 | 60 | 1 | $60,100 | $60,100 |
| New Mexico | $62,530 | $62,010 | 130 | 1 | $68,840 | $68,840 |
| Missouri | $61,720 | $49,400 | 510 | 2 | $74,740 | $50,880 |
| Georgia | $61,260 | $49,520 | 840 | 5 | $74,850 | $43,270 |
| Michigan | $61,240 | $56,430 | 560 | 1 | $54,230 | $54,230 |
| Nebraska | $60,730 | $53,190 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| West Virginia | $60,120 | $50,870 | 280 | 2 | $63,530 | $52,370 |
| Kansas | $59,100 | $57,810 | 180 | 1 | $51,790 | $51,790 |
| North Carolina | $57,690 | $59,920 | 670 | 4 | $67,340 | $51,290 |
| Idaho | $56,260 | $56,460 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $55,190 | $56,430 | n/a | 2 | $66,280 | $49,470 |
| Oklahoma | $53,730 | $40,160 | 220 | 2 | $55,710 | $52,400 |
| Mississippi | $52,650 | $50,810 | 120 | 1 | $49,990 | $49,990 |
| Utah | $46,200 | $44,990 | 290 | 1 | $56,640 | $56,640 |
| Alabama | $41,310 | $41,710 | 470 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $28,560 | $30,160 | 90 | 1 | $29,390 | $29,390 |
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Surgical Assistants salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | $141,940 | $161,710 | $68.24 | n/a |
| Lexington, KY | $115,640 | $102,330 | $55.59 | 100 |
| Florence, SC | $115,420 | $133,380 | $55.49 | 200 |
| Boulder, CO | $101,340 | $83,030 | $48.72 | 30 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $98,860 | $102,730 | $47.53 | 200 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $96,400 | $100,820 | $46.34 | 200 |
| Canton, OH | $95,030 | $97,800 | $45.69 | 70 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $93,890 | $99,530 | $45.14 | 270 |
| Portland, OR | $93,690 | $86,890 | $45.04 | 120 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $93,600 | $88,570 | $45.00 | 40 |
| Austin, TX | $88,140 | $93,380 | $42.38 | 110 |
| Nashville, TN | $87,360 | $87,080 | $42.00 | 340 |
| El Paso, TX | $86,000 | $94,730 | $41.35 | 60 |
| Dallas, TX | $85,960 | $87,080 | $41.33 | 490 |
| Deltona, FL | $84,800 | $84,460 | $40.77 | 40 |
| Orlando, FL | $84,110 | $79,240 | $40.44 | 160 |
| Lubbock, TX | $83,980 | $74,880 | $40.38 | 40 |
| Miami, FL | $83,700 | $78,240 | $40.24 | 290 |
| Memphis, TN | $83,350 | $80,740 | $40.07 | 90 |
| Washington, DC | $82,880 | $60,410 | $39.84 | 680 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $82,680 | $78,050 | $39.75 | 70 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $82,110 | $75,950 | $39.48 | 230 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $81,770 | $77,570 | $39.31 | 110 |
| Dayton, OH | $81,650 | $84,750 | $39.25 | 60 |
| Seattle, WA | $81,360 | $80,550 | $39.12 | 50 |
| Salem, OR | $81,320 | $75,710 | $39.10 | 30 |
| Duluth, MN | $80,980 | $75,470 | $38.93 | 40 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $79,710 | $81,690 | $38.32 | 420 |
| Chicago, IL | $78,390 | $80,210 | $37.69 | 2,090 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $78,000 | $67,080 | $37.50 | n/a |
| Rochester, MN | $77,200 | $76,880 | $37.12 | 40 |
| Springfield, IL | $76,880 | $78,210 | $36.96 | n/a |
| San Antonio, TX | $75,230 | $79,110 | $36.17 | 230 |
| Atlanta, GA | $74,850 | $60,720 | $35.99 | 370 |
| Champaign, IL | $74,830 | $74,490 | $35.98 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO | $74,740 | $74,080 | $35.93 | 130 |
| New York, NY | $74,070 | $62,990 | $35.61 | n/a |
| Baltimore, MD | $72,770 | $53,990 | $34.99 | 200 |
| Amarillo, TX | $72,690 | $79,820 | $34.95 | n/a |
| Richmond, VA | $72,600 | $51,030 | $34.90 | 340 |
| Hartford, CT | $72,030 | $67,580 | $34.63 | 40 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $71,660 | $78,980 | $34.45 | 50 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $71,180 | $66,030 | $34.22 | 50 |
| Appleton, WI | $70,530 | $66,480 | $33.91 | n/a |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $70,210 | $65,910 | $33.75 | 110 |
| Greenville, SC | $69,850 | $80,800 | $33.58 | 30 |
| Honolulu, HI | $69,660 | $54,190 | $33.49 | 70 |
| McAllen, TX | $69,390 | $77,980 | $33.36 | 130 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $68,840 | $65,200 | $33.10 | 60 |
| Madison, WI | $68,710 | $73,200 | $33.03 | 70 |
| Louisville, KY | $68,430 | $51,350 | $32.90 | 140 |
| Cleveland, OH | $68,250 | $74,140 | $32.81 | 280 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $67,600 | $72,030 | $32.50 | n/a |
| Raleigh, NC | $67,340 | $67,210 | $32.37 | n/a |
| Pensacola, FL | $67,060 | $62,550 | $32.24 | 30 |
| Boston, MA | $66,280 | $58,370 | $31.87 | 430 |
| Kingsport, TN | $66,190 | $65,260 | $31.82 | 30 |
| Houston, TX | $65,800 | $62,990 | $31.64 | n/a |
| Tampa, FL | $65,630 | $51,420 | $31.55 | n/a |
| Indianapolis, IN | $65,530 | $56,120 | $31.50 | 250 |
| Akron, OH | $65,020 | $65,130 | $31.26 | 80 |
| Charleston, SC | $64,410 | $58,710 | $30.97 | 60 |
| Sarasota, FL | $64,050 | $59,930 | $30.79 | n/a |
| Huntington, WV | $63,530 | $63,740 | $30.54 | 70 |
| Ocala, FL | $62,690 | $50,650 | $30.14 | 30 |
| Columbus, OH | $62,280 | $46,270 | $29.94 | 180 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $60,360 | $49,440 | $29.02 | 70 |
| Anchorage, AK | $60,100 | $61,210 | $28.90 | 40 |
| Providence, RI | $58,590 | $56,160 | $28.17 | 140 |
| Athens, GA | $57,070 | $45,390 | $27.44 | 40 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $56,640 | $50,980 | $27.23 | 100 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $55,710 | $39,090 | $26.79 | 80 |
| Charlotte, NC | $55,550 | $52,890 | $26.71 | 150 |
| Detroit, MI | $54,230 | $48,570 | $26.07 | 350 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $53,650 | $50,410 | $25.79 | n/a |
| Midland, TX | $52,710 | $47,130 | $25.34 | 40 |
| Tulsa, OK | $52,400 | $40,160 | $25.19 | 120 |
| Parkersburg, WV | $52,370 | $48,120 | $25.18 | 30 |
| Greensboro, NC | $52,240 | $59,920 | $25.11 | n/a |
| Columbia, SC | $51,830 | $48,160 | $24.92 | 70 |
| Wichita, KS | $51,790 | $47,830 | $24.90 | 50 |
| Greenville, NC | $51,290 | $40,950 | $24.66 | 30 |
| Springfield, MO | $50,880 | $37,540 | $24.46 | 60 |
| Gulfport, MS | $49,990 | $50,810 | $24.03 | 80 |
| Springfield, MA | $49,470 | $47,350 | $23.78 | 70 |
| Macon, GA | $48,000 | $45,910 | $23.08 | 30 |
| Gainesville, GA | $47,560 | $48,540 | $22.86 | 60 |
| Savannah, GA | $43,270 | $38,320 | $20.80 | 60 |
| San Juan, PR | $29,390 | $30,160 | $14.13 | 80 |
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Surgical Assistants salary: questions
Where do surgical assistants make the most money?
In Phoenix, AZ, with an average of $141,940 a year, among the 89 metro areas we cover.
What is the average surgical assistants salary in the U.S.?
$72,710 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $66,800, so half of surgical assistants earn more than that and half less.
What salary should surgical assistants ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of surgical assistants nationwide earn between $50,170 (25th percentile) and $88,010 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays surgical assistants the most?
Washington, D.C., with a statewide average of $110,920 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is surgical assistants pay the lowest?
San Juan, PR, at $29,390 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-9093.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.