Best cities for a surgical first assistant
The best cities for surgical first assistants are El Paso, TX, Las Vegas, NV, and San Antonio, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for surgical first assistants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for surgical first assistants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a surgical first assistant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for surgical first assistants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for surgical first assistants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a surgical first assistant. While the absolute best city for surgical first assistants is El Paso, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for surgical first assistants in 2024.
If you're looking for a surgical first assistant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for surgical first assistants in 2026
1. El Paso, TX
Total surgical first assistant jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $66,615 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 1.33 2. Las Vegas, NV
Total surgical first assistant jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $65,069 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 2.58 3. San Antonio, TX
Total surgical first assistant jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $66,332 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 1.29 4. Jersey City, NJ
Total surgical first assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $80,947 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Newark, NJ
Total surgical first assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $80,771 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Albuquerque, NM
Total surgical first assistant jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $65,920 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 0.28 7. Islip, NY
Total surgical first assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $81,704 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Hempstead, NY
Total surgical first assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $81,594 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Brookhaven, NY
Total surgical first assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $81,440 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. New York, NY
Total surgical first assistant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $81,205 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for surgical first assistants
- El Paso, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- San Antonio, TX
- Jersey City, NJ
- Newark, NJ
- Albuquerque, NM
- Islip, NY
- Hempstead, NY
- Brookhaven, NY
- New York, NY
- (2 surgical first assistant jobs)
- (16 surgical first assistant jobs)
- (10 surgical first assistant jobs)
- (0 surgical first assistant jobs)
- (0 surgical first assistant jobs)
- (1 surgical first assistant jobs)
- (0 surgical first assistant jobs)
- (0 surgical first assistant jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a surgical first assistant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso, TX | $66,615 | $44,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $65,069 | $42,000 | 632,912 | 16 |
| 3 | San Antonio, TX | $66,332 | $40,000 | 1,492,510 | 10 |
| 4 | Jersey City, NJ | $80,947 | $43,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | $80,771 | $43,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | $65,920 | $43,000 | 559,277 | 1 |
| 7 | Islip, NY | $81,704 | $43,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 8 | Hempstead, NY | $81,594 | $43,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 9 | Brookhaven, NY | $81,440 | $43,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 10 | New York, NY | $81,205 | $43,000 | 8,537,673 | - |
| 11 | Oyster Bay, NY | $81,188 | $43,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 12 | Nashville, TN | $53,992 | $33,000 | 660,388 | 16 |
| 13 | Corpus Christi, TX | $66,820 | $39,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 14 | Laredo, TX | $67,657 | $40,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 15 | Stockton, CA | $69,248 | $44,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $65,739 | $42,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 17 | Toledo, OH | $56,140 | $33,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 18 | Wichita, KS | $63,917 | $42,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 19 | Tulsa, OK | $56,876 | $37,000 | 403,090 | 3 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $65,501 | $40,000 | 947,890 | 1 |
| 21 | Henderson, NV | $65,065 | $42,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 22 | Houston, TX | $64,873 | $39,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 23 | North Las Vegas, NV | $64,924 | $42,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 24 | Detroit, MI | $60,167 | $35,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 25 | Fort Worth, TX | $63,092 | $39,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 26 | Lubbock, TX | $64,668 | $42,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 27 | Arlington, TX | $63,010 | $39,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $62,771 | $39,000 | 1,317,929 | 1 |
| 29 | Irving, TX | $62,775 | $39,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 30 | Durham, NC | $57,327 | $32,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 31 | Garland, TX | $62,487 | $39,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 32 | Plano, TX | $62,375 | $39,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 33 | Memphis, TN | $55,362 | $34,000 | 652,717 | 1 |
| 34 | Cleveland, OH | $57,660 | $33,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 35 | Buffalo, NY | $72,271 | $40,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 36 | Sacramento, CA | $68,884 | $44,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 37 | Cincinnati, OH | $52,972 | $31,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
| 38 | Chicago, IL | $64,216 | $40,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 39 | Columbus, OH | $55,397 | $32,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 40 | Oklahoma City, OK | $58,747 | $38,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 41 | Raleigh, NC | $57,372 | $32,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 42 | Oakland, CA | $69,960 | $44,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 43 | Fremont, CA | $69,958 | $44,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 44 | New Orleans, LA | $57,588 | $33,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 45 | Milwaukee, WI | $54,432 | $33,000 | 595,047 | 1 |
| 46 | Greensboro, NC | $56,474 | $32,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 47 | Glendale, AZ | $53,224 | $35,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 48 | Fresno, CA | $68,981 | $44,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 49 | Bakersfield, CA | $68,981 | $44,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 50 | Winston-Salem, NC | $56,054 | $31,000 | 242,203 | - |
Highest paying cities for surgical first assistants
| Rank | City | Avg. surgical first assistant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | $67,884 |
| 2 | Las Cruces, NM | $66,510 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $65,069 |
| 4 | Northampton, MA | $62,203 |
| 5 | Springfield, IL | $61,752 |
| 6 | Norman, OK | $58,997 |
| 7 | Manchester, NH | $58,927 |
| 8 | Greenville, NC | $58,769 |
| 9 | Grand Rapids, MI | $58,356 |
| 10 | Canton, OH | $57,713 |
| 11 | Memphis, TN | $55,362 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs, CO | $55,206 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $54,815 |
| 14 | Milwaukee, WI | $54,432 |
| 15 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $54,207 |
| 16 | Florence, SC | $52,750 |
| 17 | Springfield, MO | $52,464 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $45,906 |
| 19 | Jeffersonville, IN | $42,675 |
Surgical first assistant best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025