Surgical Assistant salary in Pennsylvania
Surgical Assistants in Pennsylvania earn a median of $60,550 a year ($29.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,750 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $66,800. Pennsylvania ranks 26th of 44 states for surgical assistants pay. There are 0.04 surgical assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.28). The average (mean) salary is $69,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for surgical assistants in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,080 | $20.71 |
| 25th percentile | $50,410 | $24.24 |
| Median | $60,550 | $29.11 |
| 75th percentile | $83,570 | $40.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,750 | $51.80 |
| Average (mean) | $69,150 | $33.24 |
Half of surgical assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,045.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,522.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,328.85 |
| Weekly | $1,164.42 |
| Hourly | $29.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Surgical Assistant salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $67,080 | n/a |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $50,410 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for surgical assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $123,390 |
| Arizona | $111,170 |
| Colorado | $107,440 |
| Nevada | $100,820 |
| New Jersey | $90,710 |
| South Carolina | $85,580 |
| Kentucky | $84,600 |
| Tennessee | $81,640 |
| Oregon | $80,450 |
| Illinois | $80,210 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other | $45,360 | $21.81 |
| Athletic Trainer | $61,060 | — |
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $59,980 | $28.84 |
| Genetic Counselor | $94,930 | $45.64 |
| Registered Nurse | $96,430 | $46.36 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $63,940 | $30.74 |
| Physicians, All Other | $217,310 | $104.48 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $40,040 | $19.25 |
| Pharmacist | $138,160 | $66.42 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $46,720 | $22.46 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $51,680 | $24.85 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,380 | $48.74 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,140 | $62.57 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $43,930 | $21.12 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-9093. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surgical assistant make in Pennsylvania?
The median salary for surgical assistants in Pennsylvania is $60,550 a year, or $29.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid surgical assistants make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of surgical assistants in Pennsylvania earn at least $107,750 a year. The top 25% earn $83,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for surgical assistants in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,080 a year, and a quarter of surgical assistants earn $50,410 or less.
How many surgical assistants work in Pennsylvania?
About 240 surgical assistants are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.