Surgical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a surgical assistants in Arizona is $111,170/year ($53.45/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $115,310 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 20.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $111K get you in Arizona?
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What this looks like in Arizona
Arizona sits well above the national pay line for surgical assistants, local pay runs about 66% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 20.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Arizona offers a genuinely strong financial position for surgical assistantss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level surgical assistants (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $111K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $116K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Assistants salary by metro in Arizona
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $162K | +45% | N/A |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $111K, rent takes 20.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical assistants in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical assistants typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,886/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is surgical assistant a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay is 66% above the national median — $111K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for surgical assistants?
Arizona pays $111K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +66%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical assistants make in Arizona?
The median is $111,170 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,100, and experienced surgical assistants can clear $164,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $111K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,985/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 20.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a surgical assistants salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median surgical assistants salary is worth about $115,310 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do surgical assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.