Surgical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a surgical assistants in Wisconsin is $78,030/year ($37.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $82,720 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Wisconsin?
About surgical assistants
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Wisconsin sits well above the national pay line for surgical assistants, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 24% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Wisconsin offers a genuinely strong financial position for surgical assistantss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level surgical assistants (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Assistants salary by metro in Wisconsin
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $82K | +5% | 420 |
| Madison | $73K | -6% | 70 |
| Appleton | $66K | -15% | N/A |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $66K | -15% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track surgical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 24% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical assistants in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical assistants typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,848/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $78K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for surgical assistants?
Wisconsin pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical assistants make in Wisconsin?
The median is $78,030 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,460, and experienced surgical assistants can clear $99,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,016/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 24% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $82,720 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.