How Much Does a First Assist Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$66,800
Surgical first assistants in the U.S. earn a median of $66,800 a year, or $32.11 an hour. Half of surgical first assistants earn more than $66,800 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $107,610.
Pay percentiles for surgical first assistants
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19.08 | $39,690 |
| 25th | $24.12 | $50,170 |
| 50th (median) | $32.11 | $66,800 |
| 75th | $42.31 | $88,010 |
| 90th | $51.74 | $107,610 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Surgical Assistants (SOC 29-9093). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for surgical first assistants
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $123,390 | $59.32 | +85% |
| Arizona | $111,170 | $53.45 | +66% |
| Colorado | $107,440 | $51.65 | +61% |
| Nevada | $100,820 | $48.47 | +51% |
| New Jersey | $90,710 | $43.61 | +36% |
| South Carolina | $85,580 | $41.15 | +28% |
| Kentucky | $84,600 | $40.67 | +27% |
| Tennessee | $81,640 | $39.25 | +22% |
| Oregon | $80,450 | $38.68 | +20% |
| Illinois | $80,210 | $38.56 | +20% |
| United States | $66,800 | $32.11 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many surgical first assistants are there?
BLS counts about 22,270 surgical first assistants employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Surgical Assistants”. The most jobs are in Texas (2,840), Illinois (2,300) and Florida (1,260).
The mean (average) annual wage is $72,710, higher than the median of $66,800.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,567
- Biweekly
- $2,569
- Weekly
- $1,285
- Daily (8 hours)
- $257
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do surgical first assistants make an hour?
The median hourly wage for surgical first assistants is $32.11. The middle 50% earn between $24.12 and $42.31 an hour.
Which state pays surgical first assistants the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for surgical first assistants at $123,390, +85% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for surgical first assistants?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of surgical first assistants earn less than $39,690 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.