Surgical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a surgical assistants in Missouri is $49,400/year ($23.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $55,524 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 32.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Missouri?
About surgical assistants
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for surgical assistants in Missouri runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $67K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level surgical assistants (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Assistants salary by metro in Missouri
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $74K | +50% | 130 |
| Springfield | $38K | -24% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track surgical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 32.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical assistants in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical assistants typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,252/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Missouri?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $49K here vs. $67K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for surgical assistants?
Missouri pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do surgical assistants make in Missouri?
The median is $49,400 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,540, and experienced surgical assistants can clear $93,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,348/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 32.8% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $55,524 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.