Surgical Assistants pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $133,400 or more. The middle half of surgical assistants in Washington earn between $58,130 and $109,760.
- $50K10th
- $58K25th
- $60KMedian
- $110K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,880 | $6,907 | $39.85 |
| Median | $60,410 | $5,034 | $29.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,130 | $4,844 | $27.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $109,760 | $9,147 | $52.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Assistants pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Surgical assistants in Washington earn 25% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($110,920) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($72,710). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $66,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $82,880 | $60,410 | $49,620 | $133,400 | 680 |
| Washington, D.C. | $110,920 | $123,390 | $59,030 | $145,780 | 90 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $82,880, a single filer in Washington takes home about $63,060 a year, or $5,255 a month and $2,425 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $64,229 | $5,352 |
| Working in MD | $63,411 | $5,284 |
| Working in VA | $63,185 | $5,265 |
| Working in DC | $63,060 | $5,255 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for surgical assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $82,880 buys what about $76,118 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Assistants salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$72,770
- Richmond, VA$72,600
- Philadelphia, PA$78,000
- Virginia Beach, VA$93,890
- Pittsburgh, PA$53,650
- Parkersburg, WV$52,370
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 Washington: questions
How much do surgical assistants make an hour in Washington?
$39.84 an hour on average, and $29.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical assistants salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical assistants take-home pay in Washington?
About $63,060 a year ($5,255 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,880.
Do surgical assistants earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.9%.
- 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 1.50, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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