Surgical Assistants pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,750 or more. The middle half of surgical assistants in Philadelphia earn between $52,010 and $96,740.
- $43K10th
- $52K25th
- $67KMedian
- $97K75th
- $125K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,000 | $6,500 | $37.50 |
| Median | $67,080 | $5,590 | $32.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,010 | $4,334 | $25.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,740 | $8,062 | $46.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Assistants pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Surgical assistants in Philadelphia earn 13% more than the Pennsylvania average ($69,150) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($72,710). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $66,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $78,000 | $67,080 | $43,140 | $124,750 | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $69,150 | $60,550 | $43,080 | $107,750 | 240 |
| United States | $72,710 | $66,800 | $39,690 | $107,610 | 22,270 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Surgical Assistants salary after taxes in Philadelphia
On the average salary of $78,000, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $61,308 a year, or $5,109 a month and $2,358 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $61,308 | $5,109 |
| Working in NJ | $60,924 | $5,077 |
| Working in MD | $60,210 | $5,017 |
| Working in DE | $59,786 | $4,982 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for surgical assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $78,000 buys what about $76,057 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Assistants salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 2 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$78,000
- Pittsburgh$53,650
Highest-paying cities for surgical assistants
Phoenix, AZ pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($141,940).
- Phoenix, AZ$141,940
- Lexington, KY$115,640
- Florence, SC$115,420
- Boulder, CO$101,340
- Cincinnati, OH$98,860
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Surgical Assistants salary in Philadelphia: questions
How much do surgical assistants make an hour in Philadelphia?
$37.50 an hour on average, and $32.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical assistants salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical assistants take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $61,308 a year ($5,109 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,000. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do surgical assistants earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,710).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-9093; area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
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