How to hire a surgical first assistant

How to hire a surgical first assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step surgical first assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a surgical first assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new surgical first assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a surgical first assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your surgical first assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a surgical first assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a surgical first assistant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a surgical first assistant that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of surgical first assistants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Surgical First Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Surgical First Assistant		$19-44
   Operating Room Nurse	An Operating Room Nurse assists surgeons during operations and keeps the operating room sterile at all times. They ensure that patients are ready for transport to the recovery room.	$20-51
   Surgical Technician	A Surgical Technician is an essential member of a medical operating team. They serve as an additional hand of a surgeon... Show more	$16-37

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Visualization
   • Patient Care
   • Surgical Procedures
   • Surgical Technologist
   • Optimal Results
   • Operative Site
   • Technical Functions
   • Harvest
   • Direct Supervision
   • Robotic
   • CST
   • Suturing
   • Surgical Instruments

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage floor, ICU and rehab in-patients as well as respond to ER and hospital consultation.
   • Appropriate placement and securing of retractors.
   • Insert and remove Foley urinary bladder catheter.
   • Comply with all HIPAA rules and regulations.
   • Hold retractors or instruments as directed by the surgeon.
   • Assist on total knee and hip replacements as well as fracture care.

   More surgical first assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the surgical first assistant job description is a good way to get more applicants. A surgical first assistant salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a surgical first assistant in Washington may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level surgical first assistant. Additionally, a surgical first assistant with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average surgical first assistant salary

   $61,480yearly

   $29.56 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level surgical first assistant salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average surgical first assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Texas	$67,884	$33
   2	New Mexico	$66,510	$32
   3	Nevada	$65,069	$31
   4	Massachusetts	$62,203	$30
   5	Illinois	$61,752	$30
   6	Oklahoma	$58,997	$28
   7	New Hampshire	$58,927	$28
   8	North Carolina	$58,769	$28
   9	Michigan	$58,356	$28
   10	Ohio	$57,713	$28
   11	Tennessee	$55,362	$27
   12	Colorado	$55,206	$27
   13	Georgia	$54,815	$26
   14	Wisconsin	$54,432	$26
   15	Arizona	$54,207	$26
   16	South Carolina	$52,750	$25
   17	Missouri	$52,464	$25
   18	Florida	$45,906	$22
   19	Indiana	$42,675	$21

   Average surgical first assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Favorite Healthcare Staffing	$99,259	$47.72
   2	West Virginia University	$93,088	$44.75	2
   3	Baptist Health Care	$90,497	$43.51	1
   4	Accountable Healthcare Holdings Corp.	$87,953	$42.29	3
   5	Dignity Health	$83,703	$40.24	109
   6	United Hospital District	$82,088	$39.47
   7	Erlanger Health System	$79,898	$38.41	23
   8	University of Tennessee	$79,639	$38.29	5
   9	Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center	$76,436	$36.75
   10	Tenet Healthcare	$75,640	$36.37	133
   11	Highmark	$74,888	$36.00	39
   12	Student Conservation Association	$74,814	$35.97
   13	University of Maryland Medical System	$74,569	$35.85	8
   14	Blessing Hospital Emergency Room	$74,010	$35.58	3
   15	East Alabama Health	$73,294	$35.24	2
   16	Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego	$71,264	$34.26	2
   17	Legacy Health	$71,255	$34.26	12
   18	The Bone & Joint Center	$70,688	$33.98	2
   19	MAS Medical Staffing	$70,520	$33.90	17
   20	Novant Health	$69,223	$33.28	31

4. Writing a surgical first assistant job description

   A surgical first assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a surgical first assistant job description:

   Surgical first assistant job description example

   Sign on Bonus and Relocation assistance Available This job collaborates with the surgeon and the healthcare team in performing a safe operation with optimal results for the patient. Performs these functions under the direction and supervision of the surgeon and in accordance with hospital policy and appropriate laws and regulations. In collaboration with surgical technologist performs separate roles which is defined by job description and advanced education which requires knowledge in the use of surgical instruments on tissues versus the handling of instruments.
   
   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
   
   This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at the company's discretion.
   Education Required - High school diploma or equivalent. Preferred- Certified course in Endoscopic Saphenous Vein Harvesting.
   Work Experience Required - 5 years of experience working in surgery. Preferred - 2 years of experience in Surgical First Assisting.
   Certifications Required - Certification from an accredited Surgical First Assistant Program. Basic Life Support (BLS) from American Heart Association. Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs) Skilled in suturing and saphenous vein harvesting. Strong knowledge of sterile technique. Conflict resolution skills and ability to demonstrate good judgement. Basic analytical skills. Proficiency in using computers, software, and web-based applications. Effective verbal and written communication skills and ability to present information clearly and professionally to varying levels of individuals throughout the patient care process. Ability to travel throughout and between facilities.
   Job Duties Practices strict adherence to sterile technique. Facilitates preparation of the patient for surgery. Provides visualization of the operative field. Under the direct supervision of the surgeon, harvests the saphenous vein for coronary artery grafting purposes. Utilizes appropriate techniques to assist with closure of body planes. Selects and applies appropriate wound dressing and secures drainage system or intra aortic balloon pump to tissue. Adapts behavior to the specific patient population, including but not limited to respect for privacy, method of introduction to the patient, adapting explanation of services or procedures to be performed, requesting permissions and communication style. Performs other related duties as required. The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time. Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations and standards.
   This employer maintains and complies with its Compliance & Privacy Program and Standards of Conduct, including the immediate reporting of any known or suspected unethical or questionable behaviors or conduct; patient/employee safety, patient privacy, and/or other compliance-related concerns.
   The employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.
   Physical and Environmental Demands
   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   Heavy Work - Exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible.
   
   Duties performed routinely require exposure to blood, body fluid and tissue.
   The incumbent works in a patient care area; works in an area where patients enter; works directly with patients; and/or works with specimens that could contain communicable diseases. There may be an occupational risk for exposure to communicable diseases. Because the incumbent works within a healthcare setting, there may be occupational risk for exposure to hazardous medications or hazardous waste within the environment through receipt, transport, storage, preparation, dispensing, administration, cleaning and/or disposal of contaminated waste. The risk level of exposure may increase depending on the essential job duties of the role.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right surgical first assistant for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your surgical first assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit surgical first assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with surgical first assistant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new surgical first assistant

   Once you've found the surgical first assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new surgical first assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a surgical first assistant?