California Median
$62,540
per year
Hourly Rate
$30.07
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-6% vs US median
US median $66,800
State Rank
#22 of 44
1,210 employed here
How much does a Surgical Assistant make in California?
Surgical Assistants in California take home a median of $62,540 annually — roughly $30.07 an hour — which runs 6% below the national median of $66,800.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $56,100 while the top 10% make $72,030 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $59,630 and $72,030 a year.
Surgical Assistant salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,100 | $26.97 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $59,630 | $28.67 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $62,540 | $30.07 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $72,030 | $34.63 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,030 | $34.63 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 22nd out of 44 states and territories for Surgical Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Surgical Assistant salary in other states
District of Columbia $123,390Arizona $111,170Colorado $107,440Nevada $100,820New Jersey $90,710South Carolina $85,580Kentucky $84,600Tennessee $81,640Oregon $80,450Illinois $80,210Virginia $78,910Wisconsin $78,030New Hampshire $77,670Ohio $77,450Minnesota $75,950Connecticut $67,580Montana $67,370Iowa $66,030Washington $65,440Texas $64,930Florida $62,550New Mexico $62,010Rhode Island $61,900Alaska $61,210Pennsylvania $60,550New York $60,070North Carolina $59,920Maryland $58,130Kansas $57,810Indiana $56,620Idaho $56,460Massachusetts $56,430Michigan $56,430Hawaii $54,190Nebraska $53,190West Virginia $50,870Mississippi $50,810Arkansas $49,600Georgia $49,520Missouri $49,400Utah $44,990Alabama $41,710Oklahoma $40,160
Working as a Surgical Assistant in California
Nationally, about 22,000 people work as Surgical Assistants in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($62,540) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Surgical Assistant make in California?
The median Surgical Assistant salary in California is $62,540 per year, or about $30.07 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $56,100 at the entry level to $72,030 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Surgical Assistants about 6% less than the national median of $66,800. California ranks 22nd out of 44 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Surgical Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $62,540 a year. About 1,210 Surgical Assistants are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Surgical Assistant salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.