Surgical Assistants pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $109,510 or more. The middle half of surgical assistants in Boston earn between $58,370 and $62,300.
- $40K10th
- $58K25th
- $58KMedian
- $62K75th
- $110K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,280 | $5,523 | $31.87 |
| Median | $58,370 | $4,864 | $28.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,370 | $4,864 | $28.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,300 | $5,192 | $29.95 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Assistants pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Surgical assistants in Boston earn 20% more than the Massachusetts average ($55,190) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($72,710). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $66,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $66,280 | $58,370 | $40,260 | $109,510 | 430 |
| Massachusetts | $55,190 | $56,430 | $36,340 | $62,060 | n/a |
| United States | $72,710 | $66,800 | $39,690 | $107,610 | 22,270 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Surgical Assistants salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $66,280, a single filer in Boston takes home about $52,442 a year, or $4,370 a month and $2,017 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $55,436 | $4,620 |
| Working in MA | $52,442 | $4,370 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for surgical assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $66,280 buys what about $61,220 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 11.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Assistants salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 2 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$66,280
- Springfield$49,470
Highest-paying cities for surgical assistants
Phoenix, AZ pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($141,940).
- Phoenix, AZ$141,940
- Lexington, KY$115,640
- Florence, SC$115,420
- Boulder, CO$101,340
- Cincinnati, OH$98,860
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Surgical Assistants salary in Boston: questions
How much do surgical assistants make an hour in Boston?
$31.87 an hour on average, and $28.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical assistants salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical assistants take-home pay in Boston?
About $52,442 a year ($4,370 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,280. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do surgical assistants earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,710).
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; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.3%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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