What are the main factors that influence a Certified Surgical First Assistant's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Certified Surgical First Assistant's salary?

A Certified Surgical First Assistant's salary grows with experience: starting around $61,370 for beginners, reaching about $62,696 at mid-level, and approach $66,427 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Certified Surgical First Assistant?

Certified Surgical First Assistant salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Certified Surgical First Assistant roles are District of Columbia $70,700, California $70,400, Massachusetts $69,500. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Certified Surgical First Assistant roles make?

Salaries for Certified Surgical First Assistant level roles vary by specialization: Certified Physician Assistant (PA) -Surgical: $120,100; Registered Nurse (RN), Surgical First Assistant: $104,900; Surgical First Assistant Nurse: $104,890; Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA): $104,863; RN - First Assistant (RNFA): $104,850.

How do different companies affect a Certified Surgical First Assistant's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Certified Surgical First Assistant roles. Large, established industry leaders like New York Police Department ($97,099) and State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority ($95,962) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $75,106.

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Surgical First Assistant make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Surgical First Assistant in the United States is $63,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

However, a Certified Surgical First Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,084
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,400 to $71,800
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,663

10% $49,663

50% (Median) $63,800

90% $79,084

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$71,800	$5,983	$1,381	$35
Average	$63,800	$5,317	$1,227	$31
25th Percentile	$56,400	$4,700	$1,085	$27

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence Certified Surgical First Assistant Salaries

A Certified Surgical First Assistant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Certified Surgical First Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Surgical First Assistant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $61,370
Early Career (1-2 years): $61,922
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $62,696
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $64,039
Expert (over 8 years): $66,427

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Certified Surgical First Assistant	$61,370
Intermediate Level Certified Surgical First Assistant	$61,922
Senior Level Certified Surgical First Assistant	$62,696
Specialist Level Certified Surgical First Assistant	$64,039
Expert Level Certified Surgical First Assistant	$66,427

View as Graph

How Do Certified Surgical First Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Certified Surgical First Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $70,700.
California: $70,400.
Massachusetts: $69,500.

District of Columbia $70,700 California $70,400 Massachusetts $69,500 Washington $69,200 New Jersey $69,200 Alaska $69,100 Connecticut $68,200 New York $67,900

Hawaii $66,700 Rhode Island $66,200 Maryland $65,800 Minnesota $65,300 Illinois $65,100 Colorado $65,100 Oregon $64,800 Delaware $64,600

New Hampshire $64,500 Virginia $64,300 Pennsylvania $63,500 Nevada $63,200 North Dakota $63,000 Michigan $62,900 Wisconsin $62,800 Vermont $62,600

Texas $62,300 Arizona $62,200 Maine $62,200 Ohio $62,100 Georgia $61,600 Indiana $61,300 Wyoming $61,200 Utah $61,100

Iowa $61,100 Kansas $60,800 Louisiana $60,700 North Carolina $60,700 Missouri $60,600 Florida $60,400 Montana $60,300 Nebraska $60,100

Kentucky $60,100 South Carolina $59,800 Tennessee $59,600 Idaho $59,600 New Mexico $59,100 Oklahoma $59,000 Alabama $58,600 South Dakota $58,000

Arkansas $57,700 West Virginia $57,500 Mississippi $56,900

Top Paying Cities for Certified Surgical First Assistants

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $80,500
San Francisco: $79,600
Oakland: $77,900

San Jose, CA $80,500

San Francisco, CA $79,600

Oakland, CA $77,900

New York, NY $73,500

Paramus, NJ $72,600

Queens Village, NY $72,600

Passaic, NJ $72,500

Bergenfield, NJ $72,500

Huntington, NY $72,400

Stamford, CT $72,400

Newark, NJ $71,900

Bridgeport, CT $71,700

Vallejo, CA $71,600

New Brunswick, NJ $71,600

Petaluma, CA $71,600

Middlesex, NJ $71,400

Somerset, NJ $71,400

Santa Cruz, CA $71,300

Boston, MA $70,900

Monterey, CA $70,700

Seattle, WA $70,500

Santa Rosa, CA $70,500

Los Angeles, CA $70,500

Juneau, AK $70,400

Washington, DC $70,300

Orange, CA $70,100

Santa Ana, CA $69,900

Anchorage, AK $69,800

Anaheim, CA $69,800

Long Beach, CA $69,800

Santa Maria, CA $69,600

Everett, WA $69,600

Danbury, CT $69,300

Bremerton, WA $69,300

Tacoma, WA $69,000

New Suffolk, NY $69,000

Sacramento, CA $69,000

Trenton, NJ $68,900

San Diego, CA $68,900

Santa Barbara, CA $68,900

Brockton, MA $68,800

Fairbanks, AK $68,600

Lompoc, CA $68,500

Lowell, MA $68,400

Ventura, CA $68,400

Nashua, NH $68,400

Stockton, CA $68,400

Modesto, CA $67,900

Poughkeepsie, NY $67,800

Olympia, WA $67,700

Kennewick, WA $67,700

New Haven, CT $67,600

Lawrence, MA $67,400

Hartford, CT $67,400

Riverside, CA $67,300

New Bedford, MA $67,300

Richland, WA $67,300

Atlantic City, NJ $67,200

New Britain, CT $67,200

San Bernardino, CA $67,200

Bakersfield, CA $67,200

New London, CT $67,100

Norwich, CT $67,100

Portsmouth, NH $67,100

Boulder, CO $67,000

Portland, OR $66,900

Worcester, MA $66,900

Minneapolis, MN $66,700

Philadelphia, PA $66,600

Honolulu, HI $66,400

Saint Paul, MN $66,300

Vineland, NJ $66,300

Providence, RI $66,100

Chicago, IL $66,000

Bellingham, WA $65,900

Springfield, MA $65,800

Baltimore, MD $65,800

Chico, CA $65,600

Pittsfield, MA $65,500

Manchester, NH $65,400

Spokane, WA $65,100

Denver, CO $65,100

Albany, NY $64,800

Troy, NY $64,700

Nassau, NY $64,700

Schenectady, NY $64,600

Wilmington, DE $64,600

Burlington, VT $64,500

Salem, OR $64,400

Portland, ME $64,200

Yakima, WA $64,200

Rochester, MN $64,000

Reno, NV $64,000

Fresno, CA $64,000

Milwaukee, WI $63,900

Detroit, MI $63,800

Ann Arbor, MI $63,800

Allentown, PA $63,800

Carson City, NV $63,700

Colorado Springs, CO $63,700

Syracuse, NY $63,700

Houston, TX $63,600

Eugene, OR $63,600

Gary, IN $63,500

Springfield, OR $63,400

Bismarck, ND $63,400

Galveston, TX $63,400

Medford, OR $63,300

Concord, NH $63,200

Austin, TX $63,200

Fort Collins, CO $63,200

Mesa, AZ $63,100

Reading, PA $63,100

Phoenix, AZ $63,000

Dallas, TX $63,000

Saint Cloud, MN $63,000

Madison, WI $62,900

Utica, NY $62,700

Raleigh, NC $62,600

Rochester, NY $62,600

Des Moines, IA $62,600

Atlanta, GA $62,500

Battle Creek, MI $62,500

Salt Lake City, UT $62,500

Lancaster, PA $62,400

Harrisburg, PA $62,300

Boca Raton, FL $62,200

Columbus, OH $62,200

Fort Worth, TX $62,200

Champaign, IL $62,200

Kansas City, KS $62,200

Kansas City, MO $62,200

Pittsburgh, PA $62,100

Richmond, VA $62,100

Indianapolis, IN $62,100

Cleveland, OH $62,100

Las Vegas, NV $62,000

Cincinnati, OH $62,000

Petersburg, VA $61,900

Huntsville, AL $61,800

Lansing, MI $61,800

Lebanon, PA $61,800

Pueblo, CO $61,800

Appleton, WI $61,800

Saint Louis, MO $61,700

Racine, WI $61,700

Charlotte, NC $61,700

Buffalo, NY $61,700

Dayton, OH $61,700

Lorain, OH $61,600

York, PA $61,600

Elkhart, IN $61,600

Gastonia, NC $61,600

Billings, MT $61,600

Beaumont, TX $61,600

Benton Harbor, MI $61,600

Springfield, IL $61,500

Rockford, IL $61,500

Rock Hill, SC $61,500

Binghamton, NY $61,500

Toledo, OH $61,500

Elyria, OH $61,400

Fargo, ND $61,400

Flagstaff, AZ $61,400

Fort Lauderdale, FL $61,400

Grand Forks, ND $61,300

Cheyenne, WY $61,300

Duluth, MN $61,300

Miami, FL $61,300

Bangor, ME $61,100

Cedar Rapids, IA $61,100

Durham, NC $61,000

Louisville, KY $61,000

Grand Rapids, MI $61,000

Hialeah, FL $61,000

Scranton, PA $60,900

Casper, WY $60,900

Akron, OH $60,800

Virginia Beach, VA $60,800

New Orleans, LA $60,800

Peoria, IL $60,700

Sarasota, FL $60,700

Nashville, TN $60,700

Omaha, NE $60,700

Green Bay, WI $60,700

Davenport, IA $60,600

Jamestown, NY $60,600

Baton Rouge, LA $60,600

Charleston, SC $60,600

Tucson, AZ $60,500

Saint Petersburg, FL $60,500

Tampa, FL $60,500

Evansville, IN $60,500

Port Arthur, TX $60,500

Bradenton, FL $60,400

Santa Fe, NM $60,300

Clearwater, FL $60,200

Orlando, FL $60,200

Canton, OH $60,100

La Crosse, WI $60,100

Albuquerque, NM $60,000

Newport News, VA $60,000

High Point, NC $60,000

Ogden, UT $60,000

Corpus Christi, TX $59,900

Norfolk, VA $59,900

Laramie, WY $59,900

Moline, IL $59,800

Boise, ID $59,800

Salisbury, NC $59,800

Saginaw, MI $59,800

Rock Island, IL $59,800

Jacksonville, FL $59,800

Tulsa, OK $59,700

Fort Myers, FL $59,700

Memphis, TN $59,700

Waterloo, IA $59,700

Lincoln, NE $59,600

Spartanburg, SC $59,600

Fort Wayne, IN $59,500

Provo, UT $59,500

Cedar Falls, IA $59,500

San Antonio, TX $59,400

Greensboro, NC $59,400

South Bend, IN $59,400

Birmingham, AL $59,300

Winston Salem, NC $59,300

Muskegon, MI $59,300

Savannah, GA $59,300

Lake Charles, LA $59,100

Anderson, IN $59,100

Lexington, KY $59,100

Augusta, GA $59,100

Greenville, SC $59,100

Wichita, KS $59,000

Tuscaloosa, AL $59,000

Lima, OH $59,000

Columbia, SC $59,000

Springfield, OH $58,900

Asheville, NC $58,800

Bloomington, IN $58,800

Knoxville, TN $58,600

Shreveport, LA $58,600

Wilmington, NC $58,500

Roanoke, VA $58,500

Topeka, KS $58,400

Frankfort, KY $58,400

Melbourne, FL $58,300

Longview, TX $58,300

Oklahoma City, OK $58,300

Chillicothe, OH $58,300

Sioux Falls, SD $58,200

Mobile, AL $58,200

Amarillo, TX $58,100

Terre Haute, IN $58,100

Altoona, PA $58,100

Chattanooga, TN $58,000

Fayetteville, AR $58,000

Killeen, TX $58,000

Sioux City, IA $57,900

Idaho Falls, ID $57,900

Lynchburg, VA $57,800

Gainesville, FL $57,800

Youngstown, OH $57,700

Lafayette, LA $57,700

Daytona Beach, FL $57,700

Portsmouth, OH $57,700

Little Rock, AR $57,700

Clarksville, TN $57,600

Pensacola, FL $57,600

Temple, TX $57,600

Hopkinsville, KY $57,400

Erie, PA $57,400

Florence, SC $57,400

Great Falls, MT $57,300

Charleston, WV $57,300

Waco, TX $57,200

Fayetteville, NC $57,200

Tallahassee, FL $57,200

Macon, GA $57,200

Helena, MT $57,100

Pine Bluff, AR $57,100

Vincennes, IN $57,000

Lubbock, TX $57,000

Alamogordo, NM $56,900

Twin Falls, ID $56,900

Rapid City, SD $56,900

Jackson, MS $56,800

Huntington, WV $56,700

Greenville, MS $56,700

Parkersburg, WV $56,700

Montgomery, AL $56,700

Wichita Falls, TX $56,600

Springfield, MO $56,600

Biloxi, MS $56,600

Monroe, LA $56,500

Johnstown, PA $56,500

Columbus, GA $56,400

Sumter, SC $56,400

Pascagoula, MS $56,300

Abilene, TX $56,300

Kingsport, TN $56,100

Albany, GA $56,100

Gulfport, MS $56,100

Alexandria, LA $55,900

Fort Smith, AR $55,800

El Paso, TX $55,600

Las Cruces, NM $55,300

Harlingen, TX $55,100

Pocatello, ID $55,100

Florence, AL $55,000

Brownsville, TX $55,000

Mcallen, TX $54,900

Dothan, AL $54,800

Columbus, MS $54,400

Altus, OK $54,100

Lawton, OK $54,000

Pierre, SD $53,800

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Certified Surgical First Assistant salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $67,717. While startup companies pay approximate $57,667.

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$57,667
Growth Stage	51~500	$60,889
Established	501~5000	$65,487
Enterprise	5000+	$67,717

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Certified Surgical First Assistant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Certified Surgical First Assistant positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Certified Surgical First Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Certified Surgical First Assistant

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare	$70,180	$34.0	10%

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Certified Surgical First Assistant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$56,400

Average $63,800/year

$71,800

$4,700

Average $5,317/month

$5,983

$1,085

Average $1,227/week

$1,381

$27

Average $31/hour

$35

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$71,800	$5,983	$1,381	$35
Average	$63,800	$5,317	$1,227	$31
25th Percentile	$56,400	$4,700	$1,085	$27

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary Growth & Career Path

Certified Surgical First Assistant

Next Role

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Certified Surgical First Assistant, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role	Estimate Salary	Projected Raise
Surgical Technician	$54,500	-15%
Anesthesia Equipment Technician	$48,500	-24%
Perioperative Tech	$53,000	-17%

Most common benefits for Certified Surgical First Assistant

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Certified Surgical First Assistant

Here are companies hiring for Certified Surgical First Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

N $97,099/per year

New York Police Department Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $95,962/per year

State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $94,615/per year

US Department of Transportation Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $93,141/per year

US General Services Administration Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

L $92,342/per year

Los Angeles County Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

D $92,011/per year

Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $91,967/per year

US Department of Commerce Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $91,755/per year

US Department of Energy Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

F $91,673/per year

Federal Bureau of Investigation Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $90,276/per year

Naval Sea Systems Command Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

T $88,975/per year

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $88,721/per year

San Diego County Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

T $88,664/per year

The TTB Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

L $87,569/per year

Lutheran Services Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

M $85,066/per year

Maryland Inc Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $83,780/per year

State University of New York Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $82,969/per year

New York State Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

P $82,703/per year

Puerto Rico Department of Education Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $80,526/per year

US Central Command Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

H $80,286/per year

Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

A $79,270/per year

Air Force Reserve Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

A $78,505/per year

American Automobile Association (AAA) Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $76,678/per year

State of Florida - Department of Health Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $75,183/per year

New York State Department Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $75,106/per year

State University System of Florida Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

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FAQ about Certified Surgical First Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Certified Surgical First Assistant?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Certified Surgical First Assistant roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Surgical First Assistant make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Certified Surgical First Assistant Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Certified Surgical First Assistant Salaries?

How Do Certified Surgical First Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Certified Surgical First Assistants

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary by Company Size

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industry for a Certified Surgical First Assistant

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary Growth & Career Path

Most common benefits for Certified Surgical First Assistant

Common company salaries for Certified Surgical First Assistant

Find Your Next Certified Surgical First Assistant Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Certified Surgical First Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Certified Surgical First Assistant?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Surgical First Assistant make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Certified Surgical First Assistant Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Certified Surgical First Assistant Salaries?

How Do Certified Surgical First Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Certified Surgical First Assistants

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary by Company Size

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industry for a Certified Surgical First Assistant

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Certified Surgical First Assistant Salary Growth & Career Path

Salaries of Jobs related to Certified Surgical First Assistant

Most common benefits for Certified Surgical First Assistant

Common company salaries for Certified Surgical First Assistant

Find Your Next Certified Surgical First Assistant Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Certified Surgical First Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Certified Surgical First Assistant?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?