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Surgeon's assistant vs surgical technician

The differences between surgeon's assistants and surgical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a surgeon's assistant, becoming a surgical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a surgeon's assistant has an average salary of $367,957, which is higher than the $52,193 average annual salary of a surgical technician.

The top three skills for a surgeon's assistant include patients, ortho and EMR. The most important skills for a surgical technician are patients, surgical technologist, and surgical procedures.

Surgeon's assistant vs surgical technician overview

Surgeon's AssistantSurgical Technician
Yearly salary$367,957$52,193
Hourly rate$176.90$25.09
Growth rate7%6%
Number of jobs2,71570,920
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Associate Degree, 49%
Average age4941
Years of experience612

Surgeon's assistant vs surgical technician salary

Surgeon's assistants and surgical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Surgeon's AssistantSurgical Technician
Average salary$367,957$52,193
Salary rangeBetween $189,000 And $715,000Between $35,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CityMinneapolis, MNSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMaineCalifornia
Best paying companyBassett Healthcare NetworkSt. Tammany Health System
Best paying industryHealth CareProfessional

Differences between surgeon's assistant and surgical technician education

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

Surgeon's AssistantSurgical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Associate Degree, 49%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianMedical Technician
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Connecticut

Surgeon's assistant vs surgical technician demographics

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

Surgeon's AssistantSurgical Technician
Average age4941
Gender ratioMale, 42.0% Female, 58.0%Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%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 Percentage12%13%

Differences between surgeon's assistant and surgical technician duties and responsibilities

Surgeon's assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage insurance authorization and hospital bookings for surgery.
  • Perform in-office suturing and skin closures in the operating room.
  • Perform vital sign checks, glucose level assessments and EKG's.
  • Provide education to patients anticipating surgery, to reduce patient anxiety, and enhance surgical outcome.
  • Gather outpatients' background and provide companionship and emotional support for thoracic cancer patients and families.
  • Board-Certify dermatologist performing Mohs surgery, advance reconstruction, blepharoplasty, liposuction, cosmetic & medical dermatology.
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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.
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Surgeon's assistant vs surgical technician skills

Common surgeon's assistant skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Ortho, 17%
  • EMR, 16%
  • General Surgery, 8%
  • Surgical Procedures, 7%
  • Direct Patient Care, 5%
Common surgical technician skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Surgical Technologist, 12%
  • Surgical Procedures, 9%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • CST, 6%
  • Sterile Technique, 5%

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