Surgical Assistants Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
The median pay for a surgical assistants in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $38,510/year ($18.52/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $39,469 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month — about 64% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $39K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level surgical assistants (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $110K | +82% | N/A |
| Arizona | $108K | +78% | N/A |
| District of Columbia | $105K | +74% | 110 |
| Minnesota | $100K | +66% | 180 |
| South Carolina | $98K | +63% | 520 |
| Kentucky | $82K | +36% | 360 |
| Tennessee | $78K | +30% | 1,010 |
| Texas | $77K | +27% | 2,770 |
| New Hampshire | $75K | +24% | 210 |
| New Jersey | $74K | +22% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $72K | +19% | 630 |
| Washington | $69K | +15% | 120 |
| Montana | $65K | +7% | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $65K | +7% | 500 |
| Illinois | $62K | +3% | 1,220 |
| Oregon | $62K | +3% | 600 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | +3% | 150 |
| Iowa | $61K | +1% | 80 |
| Indiana | $60K | +0% | 530 |
| California | $60K | +0% | N/A |
| Rhode Island | $60K | -1% | N/A |
| New York | $59K | -3% | 500 |
| Virginia | $58K | -3% | 1,210 |
| Maryland | $58K | -3% | 950 |
| Michigan | $56K | -8% | 760 |
| Idaho | $55K | -8% | N/A |
| North Dakota | $55K | -9% | 30 |
| Connecticut | $53K | -12% | 240 |
| Georgia | $52K | -13% | 1,010 |
| Hawaii | $52K | -13% | 60 |
| Ohio | $51K | -15% | 840 |
| Florida | $51K | -16% | 2,080 |
| North Carolina | $51K | -16% | 890 |
| Nebraska | $50K | -17% | 100 |
| Arkansas | $49K | -18% | 100 |
| Alaska | $49K | -18% | 50 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -19% | 200 |
| Mississippi | $49K | -19% | 70 |
| Kansas | $48K | -20% | 180 |
| New Mexico | $47K | -22% | 250 |
| Utah | $45K | -26% | 330 |
| Missouri | $44K | -26% | 380 |
| Louisiana | $42K | -31% | 60 |
| Alabama | $39K | -35% | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -38% | 280 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track surgical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do surgical assistants make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $38,510 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,510, and experienced surgical assistants can clear $57,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,604/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 65.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a surgical assistants salary go in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 $39,469 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.