Surgical Assistants pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,740 or more. The middle half of surgical assistants in Charleston earn between $41,320 and $74,390.
- $36K10th
- $41K25th
- $59KMedian
- $74K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,410 | $5,368 | $30.97 |
| Median | $58,710 | $4,892 | $28.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,320 | $3,443 | $19.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,390 | $6,199 | $35.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Assistants pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Surgical assistants in Charleston earn 25% less than the South Carolina average ($85,590) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($72,710). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $66,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $64,410 | $58,710 | $35,880 | $99,740 | 60 |
| South Carolina | $85,590 | $85,580 | $40,510 | $133,380 | 480 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $64,410, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $51,979 a year, or $4,332 a month and $1,999 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for surgical assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $64,410 buys what about $63,796 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Assistants salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 4th of 5 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Florence pays the most ($115,420).
- Florence$115,420
- Myrtle Beach$71,660
- Greenville$69,850
- Charleston$64,410
- Columbia$51,830
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 Charleston: questions
How much do surgical assistants make an hour in Charleston?
$30.97 an hour on average, and $28.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical assistants salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical assistants take-home pay in Charleston?
About $51,979 a year ($4,332 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,410.
Do surgical assistants earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.2%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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