Surgical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a surgical assistants in Ohio is $77,450/year ($37.24/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $84,691 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 23.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Ohio?
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What this looks like in Ohio
Ohio sits well above the national pay line for surgical assistants, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 23.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Ohio offers a genuinely strong financial position for surgical assistantss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level surgical assistants (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Assistants salary by metro in Ohio
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $103K | +33% | 200 |
| Canton-Massillon | $98K | +26% | 70 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $85K | +9% | 60 |
| Cleveland | $74K | -4% | 280 |
| Akron | $65K | -16% | 80 |
| Columbus | $46K | -40% | 180 |
Compare to other states
Track surgical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 23.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical assistants in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical assistants typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,363/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Ohio?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $77K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for surgical assistants?
Ohio pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical assistants make in Ohio?
The median is $77,450 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,380, and experienced surgical assistants can clear $106,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,119/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 23.2% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $84,691 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.