Surgical Assistant Salary in Rhode Island (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Surgical Assistants in Rhode Island, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Rhode Island Median
$61,900
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.76
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-7% vs US median
US median $66,800
State Rank
#24 of 44
state estimate

How much does a Surgical Assistant make in Rhode Island?

A Surgical Assistant working in Rhode Island earns a median salary of $61,900 per year, or about $29.76 per hour. That is 7% below the national median of $66,800 for this occupation.

Within Rhode Island, entry-level pay starts around $61,900 while the top 10% make $97,180 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,900 and $67,440 a year.

Surgical Assistant salary range in Rhode Island

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$61,900$29.76
25th percentile (early career)$61,900$29.76
50th percentile (median)$61,900$29.76
75th percentile (experienced)$67,440$32.42
90th percentile (top earners)$97,180$46.72

How Rhode Island compares

Rhode Island ranks 24th out of 44 states and territories for Surgical Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1District of Columbia$123,390
2Arizona$111,170
3Colorado$107,440
4Nevada$100,820
5New Jersey$90,710

Working as a Surgical Assistant in Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island pay ($61,900) 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 Rhode Island?
The median Surgical Assistant salary in Rhode Island is $61,900 per year, or about $29.76 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $61,900 at the entry level to $97,180 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Rhode Island pay compare to the national average?
Rhode Island pays Surgical Assistants about 7% less than the national median of $66,800. Rhode Island ranks 24th out of 44 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Rhode Island a good state for Surgical Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $61,900 a year. 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 Rhode Island?
The highest-paying occupations in Rhode Island include Emergency Medicine Physician ($512,730), Family Medicine Physician ($467,160), Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($450,370), 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.