Surgical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a surgical assistants in Massachusetts is $56,430/year ($27.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $56,379 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 63.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $56K get you in Massachusetts?
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Pay for surgical assistants in Massachusetts runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $67K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 63.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for surgical assistantss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level surgical assistants (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Assistants salary by metro in Massachusetts
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $58K | +3% | 430 |
| Springfield | $47K | -16% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track surgical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 63.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical assistants in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical assistants typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,180/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 108% 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 Massachusetts?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $56K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for surgical assistants?
Massachusetts pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do surgical assistants make in Massachusetts?
The median is $56,430 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,340, and experienced surgical assistants can clear $62,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,713/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 63.2% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median surgical assistants salary is worth about $56,379 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.