Healthcare practitioners
Surgical assistant
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.
Median pay
$66,800
Growth to 2035
+6%
faster than average
Openings a year
1,400
Time to qualify*
12 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Surgical assistant
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Surgical assistant: 15% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
- Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
- Pass instruments or supplies to surgeon during procedure.
- Assist with patient resuscitation during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events.
- Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
- Obtain or inspect sterile or non-sterile surgical equipment, instruments, or supplies.
- Assist members of surgical team with gowning or gloving.
- Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
Also called: Certified Surgical Technician (Certified Surgical Tech) · CRNFA (Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant) · CSA (Certified Surgical Assistant) · CSFA (Certified Surgical First Assistant) · GI Technician (Gastrointestinal Technician) · RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant) · Scrub Technician (Scrub Tech) · Surgical First Assistant
Outlook and AI
Surgical assistants held 24,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 25,900 by 2035 (+6%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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