Surgical Assistants pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,960 or more. The middle half of surgical assistants in Memphis earn between $77,650 and $95,400.
- $63K10th
- $78K25th
- $81KMedian
- $95K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,350 | $6,946 | $40.07 |
| Median | $80,740 | $6,728 | $38.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,650 | $6,471 | $37.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $95,400 | $7,950 | $45.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Assistants pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Surgical assistants in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($82,720) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($72,710). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $66,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $83,350 | $80,740 | $62,710 | $100,960 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $82,720 | $81,640 | $59,370 | $102,350 | 750 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $83,350, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $67,467 a year, or $5,622 a month and $2,595 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $67,467 | $5,622 |
| Working in AR | $64,871 | $5,406 |
| Working in MS | $64,865 | $5,405 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for surgical assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $83,350 buys what about $90,422 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Assistants salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 2nd of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($87,360).
- Nashville$87,360
- Memphis$83,350
- Chattanooga$81,770
- Kingsport$66,190
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 Memphis: questions
How much do surgical assistants make an hour in Memphis?
$40.07 an hour on average, and $38.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical assistants salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical assistants take-home pay in Memphis?
About $67,467 a year ($5,622 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,350. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do surgical assistants earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.05, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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