Surgical Assistants pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $69,450 or more. The middle half of surgical assistants in Columbia earn between $40,560 and $69,450.
- $41K10th
- $41K25th
- $48KMedian
- $69K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,830 | $4,319 | $24.92 |
| Median | $48,160 | $4,013 | $23.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,560 | $3,380 | $19.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,450 | $5,788 | $33.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Assistants pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Surgical assistants in Columbia earn 39% less than the South Carolina average ($85,590) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($72,710). At the median the gap is -28% against the U.S. median of $66,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $51,830 | $48,160 | $40,510 | $69,450 | 70 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $51,830, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $42,705 a year, or $3,559 a month and $1,642 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for surgical assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $51,830 buys what about $55,337 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Assistants salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 5th 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 Columbia: questions
How much do surgical assistants make an hour in Columbia?
$24.92 an hour on average, and $23.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical assistants salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,560, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical assistants take-home pay in Columbia?
About $42,705 a year ($3,559 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,830.
Do surgical assistants earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 14.2%.
- 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 1.19, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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