Surgical Assistants: Career Profile
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. May, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant surgical devices or drains, suction the surgical site, place catheters, clamp or cauterize vessels or tissue, and apply dressings to surgical site.
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What Tasks Do Surgical Assistants Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of surgical assistants include:
- Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
- Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
- Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
- Coordinate or participate in the positioning of patients, using body stabilizing equipment or protective padding to provide appropriate exposure for the procedure or to protect against nerve damage or circulation impairment.
- Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
- Prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.
- Apply sutures, staples, clips, or other materials to close skin, facia, or subcutaneous wound layers.
- Discuss with surgeon the nature of the surgical procedure, including operative consent, methods of operative exposure, diagnostic or laboratory data, or patient-advanced directives or other needs.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective surgical assistants combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Surgical Assistants Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Certified First Assistant (CFA)
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA)
- Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA)
- Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA)
- Certified Surgical Technician
- Clinical Assistant
- First Assistant
Job Outlook
There are roughly 984,146 surgical assistants working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +9.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Surgical Assistants Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $141,004 |
| Hourly median | $67.79 |
| 10th percentile | $91,391 |
| 25th percentile | $116,198 |
| 75th percentile | $165,810 |
| 90th percentile | $190,616 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Surgical Assistants Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $110,020 |
| Arizona | $107,500 |
| District of Columbia | $105,080 |
| Minnesota | $100,000 |
| South Carolina | $98,340 |
| Kentucky | $81,710 |
| Tennessee | $78,330 |
| Texas | $76,510 |
| New Hampshire | $74,880 |
| New Jersey | $73,600 |
| Wisconsin | $71,630 |
| Washington | $69,060 |
| Montana | $64,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,670 |
| Illinois | $62,030 |
| Oregon | $61,970 |
| Massachusetts | $61,880 |
| Iowa | $60,620 |
| Indiana | $60,380 |
| California | $60,290 |
| Rhode Island | $59,670 |
| New York | $58,680 |
| Virginia | $58,490 |
| Maryland | $58,240 |
| Michigan | $55,630 |
| Idaho | $55,310 |
| North Dakota | $54,840 |
| Connecticut | $53,300 |
| Georgia | $52,430 |
| Hawaii | $52,340 |
| Ohio | $51,180 |
| Florida | $50,920 |
| North Carolina | $50,880 |
| Nebraska | $49,850 |
| Arkansas | $49,340 |
| Alaska | $49,200 |
| West Virginia | $49,080 |
| Mississippi | $48,820 |
| Kansas | $48,200 |
| New Mexico | $46,810 |
| Utah | $44,720 |
| Missouri | $44,390 |
| Louisiana | $41,810 |
| Alabama | $38,900 |
| Oklahoma | $37,230 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,530 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for surgical assistants shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $70,927 | 16.4% | 1.37 |
| Middle Atlantic | $63,353 | 11.2% | 1.26 |
| New England | $62,998 | 3.0% | 1.17 |
| Far Western US | $61,529 | 4.1% | 1.62 |
| Southeast | $59,921 | 38.5% | 1.54 |
| Great Lakes | $59,817 | 19.8% | 1.23 |
| Plains States | $57,920 | 4.7% | 0.71 |
| Rocky Mountains | $49,392 | 2.1% | 1.33 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $116,140 | 100 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $115,610 | |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $110,020 | |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | VA | $98,910 | 290 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | SC | $96,150 | 100 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | MN | $92,160 | 30 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | KY | $90,210 | 120 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | IN | $89,600 |
Which Industries Hire Surgical Assistants
The largest employers of surgical assistants work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 22,280 | $60,290 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 290 | $86,290 |
| Educational Services | 110 | $56,460 |
Below are examples of industries where surgical assistants work:
Tools and Technology
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for surgical assistants is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Physical Proximity
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
Most surgical assistants positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Primary-Short)
- Respiratory Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Acute Care Nurses (Supplemental)
- Critical Care Nurses (Supplemental)
- Nurse Anesthetists (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for surgical assistants often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-9093.00 (Surgical Assistants).
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