Surgical Assistants pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,270 or more. The middle half of surgical assistants in Madison earn between $49,520 and $80,730.
- $48K10th
- $50K25th
- $73KMedian
- $81K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,710 | $5,726 | $33.03 |
| Median | $73,200 | $6,100 | $35.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,520 | $4,127 | $23.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,730 | $6,728 | $38.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Assistants pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Surgical assistants in Madison earn 9% less than the Wisconsin average ($75,650) and 6% less 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $68,710 | $73,200 | $48,190 | $97,270 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $75,650 | $78,030 | $47,460 | $99,950 | 810 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $68,710, a single filer in Madison takes home about $54,597 a year, or $4,550 a month and $2,100 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for surgical assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $68,710 buys what about $70,626 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Assistants salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 4th of 4 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Milwaukee pays the most ($79,710).
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 Madison: questions
How much do surgical assistants make an hour in Madison?
$33.03 an hour on average, and $35.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical assistants salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical assistants take-home pay in Madison?
About $54,597 a year ($4,550 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,710.
Do surgical assistants earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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