Surgical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a surgical assistants in Kentucky is $84,600/year ($40.67/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $93,760 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 20.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in Kentucky?
About surgical assistants
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Kentucky sits well above the national pay line for surgical assistants, local pay runs about 27% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 20.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Kentucky offers a genuinely strong financial position for surgical assistantss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level surgical assistants (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $107K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Assistants salary by metro in Kentucky
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $102K | +21% | 100 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $51K | -39% | 140 |
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Track surgical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 20.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical assistants in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical assistants typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,848/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Kentucky?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $85K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for surgical assistants?
Kentucky pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical assistants make in Kentucky?
The median is $84,600 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,470, and experienced surgical assistants can clear $154,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,377/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $93,760 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.