First assistant vs surgical technician

The differences between first assistants and surgical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a first assistant has an average salary of $52,444, which is higher than the $52,193 average annual salary of a surgical technician.

The top three skills for a first assistant include patients, patient care and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a surgical technician are patients, surgical technologist, and surgical procedures.

First assistant vs surgical technician overview

	First Assistant	Surgical Technician
Yearly salary	$52,444	$52,193
Hourly rate	$25.21	$25.09
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	3,202	70,920
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Associate Degree, 49%
Average age	43	41
Years of experience	-	12

What does a first assistant do?

First assistants to surgeons are in charge of assisting surgeons in the smooth execution of the operation's procedure and completion. They are the ones who will prepare the patient for surgeries, hand surgeons the needed tools, hold incisions open so that surgeons can easily perform the operation, transport patients to their rooms, and maintain the cleanliness of the operating room. They must also be able to withstand long hours of standing to complete surgical operations and agility to rush in case of emergencies.

What does a surgical technician do?

A Surgical Technician is an essential member of a medical operating team. They serve as an additional hand of a surgeon. Surgical Technicians have the vital responsibility of assisting surgeons during operations, such as passing and providing instruments and tools such as Graspers, Clasps, Suction, and more. Furthermore, Surgical Technicians are also responsible for preparing all of the required surgical devices and instruments, making sure they are all up to the standards of hospital and medical regulations. And post-surgery, their duties include applying bandages to a patient and even cleaning the operating room.

First assistant vs surgical technician salary

First assistants and surgical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	First Assistant	Surgical Technician
Average salary	$52,444	$52,193
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $73,000	Between $35,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	St. Tammany Health System
Best paying industry	-	Professional

Differences between first assistant and surgical technician education

There are a few differences between a first assistant and a surgical technician in terms of educational background:

	First Assistant	Surgical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Associate Degree, 49%
Most common major	Nursing	Medical Technician
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Connecticut

First assistant vs surgical technician demographics

Here are the differences between first assistants' and surgical technicians' demographics:

	First Assistant	Surgical Technician
Average age	43	41
Gender ratio	Male, 44.5% Female, 55.5%	Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 9.4% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 4.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	10%	13%

Differences between first assistant and surgical technician duties and responsibilities

First assistant example responsibilities.

Teach patients and family members how to manage their post operative home care needs, self-administration of medication and rehabilitation
Execute and monitor strategic merchandising plans to achieve revenue objectives and reduce expenditures while ensuring payroll remains within budget.
Obtain health history via phone prior to surgery and triage patients upon arrival to the ASC.
Insert Foley catheters and intravenous catheter, if need.
Assist in orthopedics, plastics, ENT, urology, gynecology and ortho-neuro cases.
Provide preventative maintenance ensuring vessel's compliance with USCG regulations, inspections, and certificates.

Surgical technician example responsibilities.

Manage sterilization of field during surgical procedures, ensuring cleanliness and sanitation meet organization protocol.
Function in scrub role in Cardio-Thoracic cases in adult and pediatrics surgeries.
Experience in on-site and real life crisis situations with patients needing Heimlich maneuver and/or CPR.
Certify nurse of the operating room, register first assistant, BLS and ACLS certify.
Operate as part of the anesthesia team by assisting the anesthesiologist and the CRNA before and during routine surgical cases.
Distribute instruments, sponges, sutures and other supplies to surgeons using aseptic technique and assists in a variety of specialties.

First assistant vs surgical technician skills

Common first assistant skills

Patients, 24%
Patient Care, 16%
Surgical Procedures, 11%
Visualization, 6%
Suturing, 4%
CPR, 4%

Common surgical technician skills

Patients, 19%
Surgical Technologist, 12%
Surgical Procedures, 9%
Patient Care, 8%
CST, 6%
Sterile Technique, 5%

First Assistant vs. similar jobs

First Assistant related careers

First Assistant related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
First Assistant
First Assistant vs Surgical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs