North Carolina Median
$59,920
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.81
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-10% vs US median
US median $66,800
State Rank
#28 of 44
670 employed here
How much does a Surgical Assistant make in North Carolina?
A Surgical Assistant working in North Carolina earns a median salary of $59,920 per year, or about $28.81 per hour. That is 10% below the national median of $66,800 for this occupation.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $39,700 while the top 10% make $74,900 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $49,520 and $67,210 a year.
Surgical Assistant salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,700 | $19.09 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $49,520 | $23.81 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $59,920 | $28.81 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $67,210 | $32.31 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,900 | $36.01 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 28th 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 $62,550California $62,540New Mexico $62,010Rhode Island $61,900Alaska $61,210Pennsylvania $60,550New York $60,070Maryland $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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina pay ($59,920) 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 North Carolina?
The median Surgical Assistant salary in North Carolina is $59,920 per year, or about $28.81 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $39,700 at the entry level to $74,900 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Surgical Assistants about 10% less than the national median of $66,800. North Carolina ranks 28th out of 44 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Surgical Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $59,920 a year. About 670 Surgical Assistants are employed in North Carolina. 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 North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), 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.