Surgical Assistants

General Information

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.

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Industry areas

  • Health Science

Job Outlook

Overall employment of surgical assistants and technologists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 9,600 openings for surgical assistants and technologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$48,320

Military salary*

$61,549

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State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$126,300
$17,420
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Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Associate's degree 24%
  • Post baccalaureate 16%
  • Post-secondary certificate 15%
  • High school 13%
  • Some college 10%
  • Master's degree 7%
  • Bachelor's degree 7%
  • Post-doctoral training 4%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

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Knowledge

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Education and Training
  • Biology
  • Psychology
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