Surgical Assistant

October 30, 2016

Surgical Assistant Job Description

Many responsibilities include pre-operative duties that involve setting up and preparing the operation environment, helping to maintain patient records, aide the patient’s physically prior to their operation. During the surgery, surgical assistants work directly with the physicians and nurses in handing surgical equipment to them as needed and they also monitor the patient’s condition during the surgical process. Following the operation, the surgical assistant can be called upon to suture, clamp, dress and close wounds, and clean the surgical equipment while preparing the operating environment for the next operation.

Surgical Assistant Salary Statistics as of 2015

Average annual salary for a Surgical Assistant is $48426 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest salary recorded was $78565. The lowest salary reported was $31009. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.

Median hourly wage for a Surgical Assistant is $24.08 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest hourly rate recorded was $39.07. The lowest hourly rate recorded was $15.42. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.

Bonuses for a Surgical Assistant are based on the years of experience using statistics from the U.S. as of 2015. The average bonus recorded was $75 from people with 15+ years of experience. The average bonus recorded was $550 from people with under 1 year of experience.

These are the highest paying states for a Surgical Assistant. These numbers are based off the median annual salary as of 2015.
Georgia – $28,000 – $52,381
Maryland – n/a
Ohio – $42,253 – $56,534
Pennsylvania – $37,000 – $63,465
Tennessee – $36,438 – $81,000
Texas – $50,335 – $124,162
Virginia – $34,286 – $61,500

These are the highest paying cities for a Surgical Assistant. These numbers are based off the median annual salary as of 2015.
Houston, Texas –
Memphis, Tennessee –
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –
Cincinnati, Ohio –
Atlanta, Georgia –
Norfolk, Virginia –
Baltimore, Maryland –

This chart outlines the average annual salary of a Surgical Assistant from the past 5 years. In 2015 the average annual salary was $48426 while in 2007 it was just $44909.42

Requirements

The skills and accreditation that surgical assistants study for, include training in the allied health field with a Bachelor of Science degree or higher. Also an accreditation in a professional and nationally recognized Surgical Assistant Program is required, which usually is completed in 10-22 months. Training also involves a broad knowledge of stringent proficiencies required in surgical applications, that occur before, during and after operations. A surgical assistant exam covers physiology, anesthetics, pharmacology, microbiology, surgical specialty areas and other medical applications.

Job Outlook

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demands for surgical assistants will increase twenty-five percent by year 2018. A majority of the opportunities will come from hospitals, dental specialties, outpatient surgical centers, cosmetic surgeries and many of other ambulatory health care services. Present and future demands in this field are growing worldwide as aging baby boomers retire and who require many technological advanced surgical procedures that give them a better life.

Gender Statistics

Related Jobs

41%

59%

Based on our stats gathered across the U.S. 41% of Surgical Assistants were males while 59% were females. These numbers are based on averages across all states combined. Some individual states may have a much different ratio however.

Past Jobs

Surgical Technologist
$26,733 – $52,012
Surgical Technician
$25,059 – $51,788
Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)
$28,238 – $52,852

Future Jobs

Dental Assistant, Surgical
$24,187 – $47,199
Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery Assistant
$23,873 – $46,894
Oral Surgery Assistant
$23,523 – $47,258