Surgical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a surgical assistants in Minnesota is $75,950/year ($36.52/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $110K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $82,019 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Minnesota?
About surgical assistants
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Minnesota sits well above the national pay line for surgical assistants, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level surgical assistants (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $110K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Assistants salary by metro in Minnesota
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $77K | +1% | 40 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $76K | +0% | 230 |
| Duluth | $75K | -1% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track surgical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 28.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical assistants in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical assistants typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,727/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Minnesota?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $76K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for surgical assistants?
Minnesota pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical assistants make in Minnesota?
The median is $75,950 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,110, and experienced surgical assistants can clear $110,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,840/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 28.6% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $82,019 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.