29
Surgical Assistants is a notable career in the 29 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Surgical Assistants against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 29-9093 |
| title | Surgical Assistants |
| onet code | 29-9093.00 |
| description | Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. May, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant surgical devices or drains, suction the surgical site, place catheters, clamp or cauterize vessels or tissue, and apply dressings to surgical site. |
| job zone | 3 |
| major group | 29 |
| tot emp | 22,860 |
| a mean | 67,190 |
| a median | 60,290 |
| a pct10 | 39,540 |
| a pct25 | 49,140 |
| a pct75 | 80,860 |
| a pct90 | 102,390 |
| h mean | 32 |
| h median | 28 |
The day-to-day work of a surgical assistants typically centers on verify the identity of patient or operative site. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Active Listening, Speaking, and Reading Comprehension. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.50 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working surgical assistants, the most common entry qualification is a Associate's Degree (or other 2 (25.0%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 16% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Nevada at $110,020 and lowest in Oklahoma at $37,230 — a 3.0× spread. The top five states (Nevada, Arizona, District of Columbia, Minnesota, South Carolina) average $104,188. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $110,020 | $91,760 | $39,100 | $110,030 | — |
| Arizona | $107,500 | $92,280 | $43,700 | $115,610 | — |
| District of Columbia | $105,080 | $101,540 | $58,250 | $140,230 | 110 |
| Minnesota | $100,000 | $111,730 | $74,800 | $148,230 | 180 |
| South Carolina | $98,340 | $86,890 | $34,520 | $128,820 | 520 |
| Kentucky | $81,710 | $79,610 | $48,550 | $103,270 | 360 |
| Tennessee | $78,330 | $77,520 | $43,400 | $107,720 | 1,010 |
| Texas | $76,510 | $75,810 | $49,010 | $102,190 | 2,770 |
| New Hampshire | $74,880 | $76,350 | $48,360 | $124,570 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $73,600 | $89,930 | $52,790 | $141,640 | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $71,630 | $72,260 | $49,410 | $98,610 | 630 |
| Washington | $69,060 | $70,310 | $38,660 | $98,910 | 120 |
| Montana | $64,810 | $63,600 | $34,790 | $95,280 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,670 | $71,290 | $47,480 | $109,430 | 500 |
| Illinois | $62,030 | $65,070 | $43,410 | $93,210 | 1,220 |
| Oregon | $61,970 | $71,120 | $53,920 | $108,180 | 600 |
| Massachusetts | $61,880 | $61,180 | $39,090 | $82,050 | 150 |
| Iowa | $60,620 | $61,200 | $39,100 | $82,360 | 80 |
| Indiana | $60,380 | $69,090 | $38,590 | $97,690 | 530 |
| California | $60,290 | $61,180 | $52,220 | $69,440 | — |
| Rhode Island | $59,670 | $67,270 | $59,670 | $90,220 | — |
| New York | $58,680 | $67,430 | $52,250 | $91,010 | 500 |
| Virginia | $58,490 | $75,790 | $45,930 | $123,800 | 1,210 |
| Maryland | $58,240 | $68,590 | $47,840 | $105,500 | 950 |
| Michigan | $55,630 | $59,570 | $36,530 | $85,730 | 760 |
| Idaho | $55,310 | $54,560 | $40,170 | $64,700 | — |
| North Dakota | $54,840 | $56,860 | $38,630 | $66,940 | 30 |
| Connecticut | $53,300 | $58,590 | $38,180 | $86,180 | 240 |
| Georgia | $52,430 | $51,000 | $36,080 | $62,100 | 1,010 |
| Hawaii | $52,340 | $69,720 | $50,170 | $109,050 | 60 |
| Ohio | $51,180 | $63,860 | $38,200 | $100,310 | 840 |
| Florida | $50,920 | $61,830 | $42,750 | $92,050 | 2,080 |
| North Carolina | $50,880 | $53,540 | $38,510 | $64,910 | 890 |
| Nebraska | $49,850 | $56,670 | $40,150 | $81,620 | 100 |
| Arkansas | $49,340 | $57,570 | $34,530 | $82,930 | 100 |
| Alaska | $49,200 | $59,450 | $42,290 | $83,010 | 50 |
| West Virginia | $49,080 | $51,490 | $32,360 | $76,590 | 200 |
| Mississippi | $48,820 | $48,880 | $38,370 | $59,940 | 70 |
| Kansas | $48,200 | $57,810 | $38,920 | $73,660 | 180 |
| New Mexico | $46,810 | $51,110 | $40,250 | $66,560 | 250 |
| Utah | $44,720 | $46,030 | $35,010 | $61,450 | 330 |
| Missouri | $44,390 | $57,510 | $35,770 | $97,050 | 380 |
| Louisiana | $41,810 | $46,600 | $29,490 | $64,780 | 60 |
| Alabama | $38,900 | $41,580 | $36,740 | $51,950 | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $37,230 | $48,250 | $29,630 | $82,630 | 280 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for surgical assistants. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Certified First Assistant (CFA) or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Surgical Assistants compares to others in the 29 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Surgical Assistants
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.