Iowa Median
$66,030
per year
Hourly Rate
$31.75
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-1% vs US median
US median $66,800
State Rank
#18 of 44
30 employed here
How much does a Surgical Assistant make in Iowa?
Surgical Assistants in Iowa take home a median of $66,030 annually — roughly $31.75 an hour — which runs 1% below the national median of $66,800.
Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $49,330 while the top 10% make $102,420 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $55,280 and $66,660 a year.
Surgical Assistant salary range in Iowa
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,330 | $23.72 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $55,280 | $26.58 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $66,030 | $31.75 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $66,660 | $32.05 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,420 | $49.24 |
|
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks 18th 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 $67,370Washington $65,440Texas $64,930Florida $62,550California $62,540New 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 Iowa
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 Iowa pay ($66,030) 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 Iowa?
The median Surgical Assistant salary in Iowa is $66,030 per year, or about $31.75 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $49,330 at the entry level to $102,420 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Surgical Assistants about 1% less than the national median of $66,800. Iowa ranks 18th out of 44 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Surgical Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $66,030 a year. About 30 Surgical Assistants are employed in Iowa. 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 Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), 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.