Surgical Care Assistant Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Surgical Care Assistant in the United States is $39,090 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $44,664
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,752 to $42,007
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,713
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
Smart Recruiting
View as table View as graph 25% $35,752 10% $32,713 90% $44,664 75% $42,007 $39,090 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Surgical Care Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $42,007 $3,501 $808 $20
Average $39,090 $3,257 $752 $19
25th Percentile $35,752 $2,979 $688 $17
Check out Surgical Care Assistant Job Openings in the United States
Lead Patient Care Assistant

MARYHAVEN,INC - Columbus, OH

Clinical Care Assistant

Ohio ENT & Allergy Physicians - Columbus, OH

Patient Care Assistant

MARYHAVEN,INC - Columbus, OH

Activity Assistant Patient Care Assistant

The James LJ Center LLC - Columbus, OH

Search More Surgical Care Assistant Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Surgical Care Assistant Salaries

A Surgical Care 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Surgical Care Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Surgical Care 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): $39,785
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $44,688
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $49,999
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $62,359
  • Expert (over 8 years): $73,709
Levels Salary
Surgical ... Level Surgical Care Assistant$39,785
Consumer ... Level Surgical Care Assistant$44,688
Consumer ... Level Surgical Care Assistant$49,999
Consumer ... Level Surgical Care Assistant$62,359
Consumer ... Level Surgical Care Assistant$73,709
$39,785 0 yr
$44,688 < 2 yrs
$49,999 2-4 yrs
$62,359 5-8 yrs
$73,709 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Surgical Care 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 Surgical Care Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $43,280.
  • California: $43,116.
  • Massachusetts: $42,541.

Top Paying Cities for Surgical Care 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: $49,304
  • San Francisco: $48,764
  • Oakland: $47,736

What Skills Can Increase a Surgical Care Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.18% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.83% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Consumer Service (Mentioned in 1.61% Job Postings): Consumer services are intangible products or actions that are typically produced and consumed simultaneously. Common examples of consumer services are haircuts, auto repairs, and landscaping.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 12.18%
Microsoft Office 2.83%
Consumer Service 1.61%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Surgical Care Assistant's salary.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 81%.
  • Collaborating: Can increase your salary by up to 52%.
  • KPI: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Innovation
$70,752
81%
Collaborating
$59,416
52%
KPI
$50,425
29%
Teamwork
$44,171
13%
Attention to Detail
$43,389
11%
Listening
$43,389
11%
Get Latest Data

Surgical Care Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Surgical Care Assistant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Financial Services, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Surgical Care Assistant positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Surgical Care Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Surgical Care Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$46,907$23.020%

How Education impacts a Surgical Care Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Surgical Care Assistants enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Surgical Care Assistant with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $38,666 and $40,209).

Surgical Care Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Surgical Care Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.5%
High School 50.0%
Associates 14.7%
Bachelors 29.4%
Masters 4.4%
Doctorate 0.0%
view as graph

Surgical Care Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Surgical Care 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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Surgical Care Assistant

Salaries for a Surgical Care Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $40,084 in 2023 to around $39,188 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Surgical Care Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Surgical Care Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$40,084
2024
$39,488
2025
$39,188
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $40,084
2024 $39,488
2025 $39,188
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Surgical Care Assistant

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Surgical Care Assistant

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

Find Your Next Surgical Care Assistant Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Surgical Care Assistant job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • SUNRISE CHILDCARE AND LEARNING CENT

    Columbus, OH

    SUNRISE CHILDCARE AND LEARNING CENT | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. NOW HIRING – CHILDCARE TEACHERS. Sunrise Childcare and Learning Center – Columbus, OH. We are looking for. reliable, cari... more

    4 Days Ago

  • MARYHAVEN,INC

    Columbus, OH

    MARYHAVEN,INC | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Patient Care Assistant. Requirements. High School Diploma or GED. required. Experience with a 12 Step Program or comparab... more

    1 Day Ago

  • MARYHAVEN,INC

    Columbus, OH

    MARYHAVEN,INC | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Patient Care Assistant Requirements. High School Diploma or GED. required. Patient Care Assistant Benefits. Medical, visi... more

    1 Day Ago

  • MARYHAVEN,INC

    Columbus, OH

    MARYHAVEN,INC | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Patient Care Assistant. Requirements. High School Diploma or GED. required. Experience with a 12 Step Program or comparab... more

    1 Day Ago

  • Maryhaven

    Columbus, OH

    Maryhaven | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Patient Care Assistant Requirements. Knowledge and skills at a level normally acquired though the completion of a High Sc... more

    1 Day Ago

  • Maryhaven

    Columbus, OH

    Maryhaven | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Lead Patient Care Assistant Job Description. Unique opportunity to join Maryhaven, Central Ohio’s largest and most compre... more

    1 Day Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Surgical Care Assistant

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

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Surgical Care Assistant roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst