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Surgical first assistant salary
Average surgical first assistant salary
$61,480
Understanding the Surgical First Assistant Salary
The role of a Surgical First Assistant is critical in the operating room, providing support to surgeons during procedures. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $61,480 annually or $30 hourly. However, this figure can differ based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the type of healthcare facility.
Salary Variations by State
Some states offer higher salaries for surgical first assistants due to demand and cost of living. For instance, states like California and New York typically provide higher compensation compared to others. It's essential for professionals in this field to research local salary trends to identify the best opportunities.
Impact of Experience
Experience plays a significant role in salary potential. Surgical first assistants with several years in the field or specialized training often see improved earning potential. Additionally, those working in specialized surgical practices may command higher salaries due to the complexity and skills required.
Conclusion
Overall, aspiring surgical first assistants should consider both location and experience when evaluating potential earnings in this rewarding healthcare career.
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Where can a Surgical First Assistant earn more?
Surgical first assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average surgical first assistant salary by state
The average surgical first assistant salary in New Jersey, New York, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average surgical first assistant salary states are Washington, Idaho, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for surgical first assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $64,509 | $31.01 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $81,077 | $38.98 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $65,745 | $31.61 |
| 4 | New York | $80,561 | $38.73 |
| 5 | Nevada | $65,077 | $31.29 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $65,246 | $31.37 |
| 7 | Kansas | $62,719 | $30.15 |
| 8 | Michigan | $59,811 | $28.76 |
| 9 | Illinois | $63,901 | $30.72 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $59,064 | $28.40 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $66,373 | $31.91 |
| 12 | California | $68,404 | $32.89 |
| 13 | Iowa | $61,771 | $29.70 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $54,559 | $26.23 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $57,784 | $27.78 |
| 16 | Delaware | $65,789 | $31.63 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $64,335 | $30.93 |
| 18 | Alaska | $59,587 | $28.65 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $54,175 | $26.05 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $58,118 | $27.94 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $53,872 | $25.90 |
| 22 | Ohio | $55,840 | $26.85 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $56,360 | $27.10 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $55,681 | $26.77 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $56,133 | $26.99 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $62,071 | $29.84 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $56,440 | $27.13 |
| 28 | Arizona | $53,073 | $25.52 |
| 29 | Maryland | $63,204 | $30.39 |
| 30 | Utah | $58,275 | $28.02 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $51,220 | $24.63 |
| 32 | Colorado | $54,367 | $26.14 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $62,468 | $30.03 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $53,728 | $25.83 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $51,525 | $24.77 |
| 36 | Montana | $52,030 | $25.01 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $54,778 | $26.34 |
| 38 | Georgia | $55,041 | $26.46 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $51,542 | $24.78 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $52,006 | $25.00 |
| 41 | Florida | $45,390 | $21.82 |
| 42 | Missouri | $51,575 | $24.80 |
| 43 | Maine | $42,790 | $20.57 |
| 44 | Washington | $48,073 | $23.11 |
| 45 | Oregon | $50,191 | $24.13 |
| 46 | Vermont | $52,734 | $25.35 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $50,249 | $24.16 |
| 48 | Idaho | $46,643 | $22.42 |
| 49 | Indiana | $43,674 | $21.00 |
| 50 | Virginia | $50,219 | $24.14 |
| 51 | Alabama | $43,995 | $21.15 |
Highest paying cities for surgical first assistants
The highest-paying cities for surgical first assistants are McAllen, TX, Las Cruces, NM, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | $67,884 | $32.64 |
| 2 | Las Cruces, NM | $66,510 | $31.98 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $65,069 | $31.28 |
| 4 | Northampton, MA | $62,203 | $29.91 |
| 5 | Springfield, IL | $61,752 | $29.69 |
| 6 | Norman, OK | $58,997 | $28.36 |
| 7 | Manchester, NH | $58,927 | $28.33 |
| 8 | Greenville, NC | $58,769 | $28.25 |
| 9 | Grand Rapids, MI | $58,356 | $28.06 |
| 10 | Canton, OH | $57,713 | $27.75 |
| 11 | Memphis, TN | $55,362 | $26.62 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs, CO | $55,206 | $26.54 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $54,815 | $26.35 |
| 14 | Milwaukee, WI | $54,432 | $26.17 |
| 15 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $54,207 | $26.06 |
| 16 | Florence, SC | $52,750 | $25.36 |
| 17 | Springfield, MO | $52,464 | $25.22 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $45,906 | $22.07 |
| 19 | Jeffersonville, IN | $42,675 | $20.52 |
Surgical first assistant salary details
A surgical first assistant's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $92,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a surgical first assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $92,000 | $7,667 | $44 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $61,480 | $5,123 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest paying surgical first assistant jobs
The highest paying types of surgical first assistants are operating room nurse, certified surgical assistant, and first assistant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Room Nurse | $68,255 | $5,688 | $32.82 | 545,487 |
| Surgical Technician | $52,193 | $4,349 | $25.09 | 70,920 |
Top companies hiring surgical first assistants now:
Which companies pay surgical first assistants the most?
Surgical first assistant salaries at Favorite Healthcare Staffing and West Virginia University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average surgical first assistant salary at companies like Baptist Health Care and Accountable Healthcare Holdings Corp. are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Favorite Healthcare Staffing | $99,259 | $47.72 |
| 2 | West Virginia University | $93,088 | $44.75 |
| 3 | Baptist Health Care | $90,497 | $43.51 |
| 4 | Accountable Healthcare Holdings Corp. | $87,953 | $42.29 |
| 5 | Dignity Health | $83,703 | $40.24 |
| 6 | United Hospital District | $82,088 | $39.47 |
| 7 | Erlanger Health System | $79,898 | $38.41 |
| 8 | University of Tennessee | $79,639 | $38.29 |
| 9 | Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center | $76,436 | $36.75 |
| 10 | Tenet Healthcare | $75,640 | $36.37 |
| 11 | Highmark | $74,888 | $36.00 |
| 12 | Student Conservation Association | $74,814 | $35.97 |
| 13 | University of Maryland Medical System | $74,569 | $35.85 |
| 14 | Blessing Hospital Emergency Room | $74,010 | $35.58 |
| 15 | East Alabama Health | $73,294 | $35.24 |
| 16 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $71,264 | $34.26 |
| 17 | Legacy Health | $71,255 | $34.26 |
| 18 | The Bone & Joint Center | $70,688 | $33.98 |
| 19 | MAS Medical Staffing | $70,520 | $33.90 |
| 20 | Novant Health | $69,223 | $33.28 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Surgical first assistant salary trends
The average surgical first assistant salary has risen by $4,954 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average surgical first assistant earned $56,526 annually, but today, they earn $61,480 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for surgical first assistants over the last decade.
Compare surgical first assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average surgical first assistant salary over time
Compare surgical first assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Surgical first assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $61,500 | $29.56 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $59,800 | $28.75 | -0.7% |
| 2024 | $60,200 | $28.96 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $58,700 | $28.21 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $57,600 | $27.71 | -0.5% |
Recently added surgical first assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northshore University Healthsystem | Surgical First Assistant-Neurosurgery | Arlington Heights, IL | 06/28/2025 | $80,704 |
| Catholic Health Initiatives | Surgical First Assist Cert Days | London, KY | 06/27/2025 | $63,591 |
| Tidalhealth | Surgical Tech First Assist | Salisbury, MD | 06/27/2025 | $58,979 |
| Hospital Sisters Health System | Surgical Technologist First Assist | OFallon, IL | 06/25/2025 | $64,760 |
| Tidalhealth | Technologist-Surgical-First Assist | Seaford, DE | 06/25/2025 | $58,979 |
| UNC Health Care Systems | Certified Surgical First Assist-Operating Room | Clayton, NC | 06/25/2025 | $55,493 |
| Medstar Research Institute | Certified Surgical First Assistant | Leonardtown, MD | 06/25/2025 | $73,003 |
| Community Health Systems | Surgical Tech First Asst | Las Cruces, NM | 06/24/2025 | $120,000 |
| Common Spirit | Surgical Technician First Assist | Prescott, AZ | 06/14/2025 | $18,000 |
| Pinnacle Health Systems | Surgical Tech First Assist (Upmc Jameson) | New Castle, PA | 06/12/2025 | $15,000 |
Surgical first assistant salary FAQs
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