Surgical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a surgical assistants in Tennessee is $81,640/year ($39.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $90,933 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $82K get you in Tennessee?
About surgical assistants
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Tennessee sits well above the national pay line for surgical assistants, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Tennessee offers a genuinely strong financial position for surgical assistantss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level surgical assistants (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Assistants salary by metro in Tennessee
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $87K | +7% | 340 |
| Memphis | $81K | -1% | 90 |
| Chattanooga | $78K | -5% | 110 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $65K | -20% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track surgical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical assistants in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical assistants typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,562/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $82K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for surgical assistants?
Tennessee pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical assistants make in Tennessee?
The median is $81,640 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,370, and experienced surgical assistants can clear $102,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,485/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 22.2% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $90,933 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.