Surgical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a surgical assistants in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ is $161,710/year ($77.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.32), that's roughly $156,514 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,839/month, or 18.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $162K get you in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler’s Regional Price Parity (103.32). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About surgical assistants
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What this looks like in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler sits well above the national pay line for surgical assistants, local pay runs about 142% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,839/month, 18.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.32) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler offers a genuinely strong financial position for surgical assistantss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for surgical assistants in metros near Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $72K | $63K |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $101K | $101K |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $51K | $51K |
| Albuquerque | $65K | $68K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
Entry-level surgical assistants (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $162K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $89K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Surgical Assistants salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $123K | +85% | 90 |
| Arizona | $111K | +66% | N/A |
| Colorado | $107K | +61% | N/A |
| Nevada | $101K | +51% | 230 |
| New Jersey | $91K | +36% | N/A |
| South Carolina | $86K | +28% | 480 |
| Kentucky | $85K | +27% | 480 |
| Tennessee | $82K | +22% | 750 |
| Oregon | $80K | +20% | 220 |
| Illinois | $80K | +20% | 2,300 |
| Virginia | $79K | +18% | 1,000 |
| Wisconsin | $78K | +17% | 810 |
| New Hampshire | $78K | +16% | 130 |
| Ohio | $77K | +16% | 970 |
| Minnesota | $76K | +14% | 360 |
| Connecticut | $68K | +1% | 320 |
| Montana | $67K | +1% | 100 |
| Iowa | $66K | -1% | 30 |
| Washington | $65K | -2% | 100 |
| Texas | $65K | -3% | 2,840 |
| Florida | $63K | -6% | 1,260 |
| California | $63K | -6% | 1,210 |
| New Mexico | $62K | -7% | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $62K | -7% | N/A |
| Alaska | $61K | -8% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | -9% | 240 |
| New York | $60K | -10% | 470 |
| North Carolina | $60K | -10% | 670 |
| Maryland | $58K | -13% | 670 |
| Kansas | $58K | -13% | 180 |
| Indiana | $57K | -15% | 690 |
| Idaho | $56K | -15% | N/A |
| Michigan | $56K | -16% | 560 |
| Massachusetts | $56K | -16% | N/A |
| Hawaii | $54K | -19% | 70 |
| Nebraska | $53K | -20% | 80 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -24% | 280 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -24% | 120 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -26% | 80 |
| Georgia | $50K | -26% | 840 |
| Missouri | $49K | -26% | 510 |
| Utah | $45K | -33% | 290 |
| Alabama | $42K | -38% | 470 |
| Oklahoma | $40K | -40% | 220 |
Showing 1–10 of 44 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track surgical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Yes — at the median salary of $162K, rent takes 18.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,839/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical assistants in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical assistants typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,691/month. At HUD’s $1,839/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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Local pay is 142% above the national median — $162K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler compare to the national average for surgical assistants?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler pays $162K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +142%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.32), the purchasing-power equivalent is $157K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical assistants make in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
The median is $161,710 a year, that works out to about $78 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,180, and experienced surgical assistants can clear $166,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $162K enough to live in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,770/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,839/month, which eats 18.8% 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler has a Regional Price Parity of 103.32 (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 $156,514 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.