Surgical assistants
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.
Surgical assistants assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. The role reports a median annual salary of $60,290 in the US and is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Postsecondary nondegree award, and shows low AI exposure (0.27 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Monitoring.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £27,888 a year for Complementary health associate professionals (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3214). ONS publishes this estimate without a precision measure. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Surgical assistants, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
- Psychology
What you'd actually do
- Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
- Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
- Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
- Coordinate or participate in the positioning of patients, using body stabilizing equipment or protective padding to provide appropriate exposure for the procedure or to protect against nerve damage or circulation impairment.
- Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
- Prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Surgical assistants do?
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.
How much does Surgical assistants earn?
The median annual salary for Surgical assistants in the US is $60,290.
What is the job outlook for Surgical assistants?
The role is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 25,300 workers.
How do I become surgical assistants?
The typical entry education is a Postsecondary nondegree award. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Surgical assistants need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Coordination. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Surgical assistants?
Our AI-durability model gives Surgical assistants a score of 0.27 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Surgical assistants has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.