Occupation · SOC 29-9093
Surgical Assistants
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. May, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant surgical devices or drains, suction the surgical site, place catheters, clamp or cauterize vessels or tissue, and apply dressings to surgical site.
Median wage
$60,290
$39,540–$102,390
Projected growth
+5.1%
Average growth
Annual openings
130
per year
Employed (US)
22,860
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
142 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionMonitoringCritical ThinkingService OrientationCoordinationOperations MonitoringComplex Problem SolvingWritingSocial PerceptivenessLearning StrategiesJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningTime ManagementOperation and ControlSystems AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisPersuasionNegotiationSystems EvaluationScienceInstructingMathematicsManagement of Personnel ResourcesTroubleshootingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesEquipment SelectionTechnology DesignProgrammingOperations AnalysisInstallationRepairingEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageBiologyEducation and TrainingComputers and ElectronicsPublic Safety and SecurityPsychologyTherapy and CounselingMechanicalMathematicsAdministration and ManagementChemistryCommunications and MediaProduction and ProcessingLaw and GovernmentAdministrativeEngineering and TechnologySociology and AnthropologyPhysicsTransportationTelecommunicationsDesignPhilosophy and TheologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesForeign LanguageBuilding and ConstructionSales and MarketingHistory and ArcheologyGeographyEconomics and AccountingFine ArtsFood Production
Technology & tools
Electronic medical record EMR softwareMEDITECH softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointNursing documentation softwarePatient scheduling softwarePatient tracking softwareSupply documentation softwareSurgery workflow communication softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsGetting InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsHandling and Moving ObjectsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicControlling Machines and ProcessesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleDocumenting/Recording InformationProcessing InformationTraining and Teaching OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationWorking with ComputersDeveloping and Building TeamsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersThinking CreativelyCoaching and Developing OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationScheduling Work and ActivitiesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesPerforming Administrative ActivitiesSelling or Influencing OthersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient identity and operative site verification — confirm using standard protocols under direct supervision before each surgical procedure.Aseptic technique fundamentals — recognize and follow established sterility standards under supervision in a controlled operating room environment.Surgical draping materials — apply sterile drapes to patients under direct guidance to establish a basic sterile operative field.Patient positioning equipment — assist senior staff in placing body stabilizers and protective padding on patients prior to routine surgical procedures.Surgical sponges and basic suction devices — handle and pass to the surgical team under supervision to help maintain a clear operative field.Sterile wound dressings — prepare and apply under direct supervision following standard post-operative protocols in the operating room.Operative consent documentation — review and verify patient consent forms under guidance before assisting on assigned surgical cases.Medical terminology and surgical instrument names — identify and use correctly when communicating with the surgical team during orientation rotations.Retractor placement techniques — observe and assist with basic tissue retraction under the direction of the lead surgical assistant or surgeon.Operative safety checklists — complete and report findings using standardized forms under supervision prior to and following surgical procedures.
developing
Patient identity protocols — independently verify patient identity and operative site against surgical records at the start of each procedure with minimal oversight.Aseptic field integrity — monitor and maintain sterile technique throughout routine surgical procedures, recognizing and correcting minor breaks without prompting.Sterile operative field — apply and adjust surgical drapes during a variety of routine procedures to sustain consistent sterility throughout the operation.Patient positioning and padding — coordinate the placement of patients using body stabilizing equipment for common surgical exposures, applying protective padding to prevent nerve or circulatory complications.Retractors, sponges, and irrigation equipment — manage and deploy during routine procedures to maintain an unobstructed operative field with reduced supervisor intervention.Wound closure materials — apply sutures, staples, and clips to close skin, fascia, and subcutaneous layers on routine cases following surgeon direction.Sterile wound dressings — prepare, select, and apply appropriate dressings independently for standard post-operative wounds in a general surgery setting.Pre-operative case review — discuss with the surgeon the procedure type, operative exposure methods, and patient directives before each assigned case.Intraoperative problem recognition — identify and report deviations from expected operative conditions such as unexpected bleeding or positioning complications to the surgeon promptly.Electronic medical records and office software — document surgical assistant activities, patient data, and post-operative notes accurately using hospital information systems.
proficient
Patient safety verification — autonomously execute and troubleshoot pre-operative identity and site-marking protocols across a full range of surgical specialties in high-volume operating room environments.Advanced aseptic technique — sustain and restore sterile conditions across complex, prolonged procedures, coaching junior staff on sterility standards without surgeon prompting.Complex operative field draping — design and execute sterile draping configurations for non-routine or minimally invasive procedures, adapting to unexpected changes in surgical approach.High-risk patient positioning — lead the positioning of patients with complex anatomical or vascular considerations, selecting specialized stabilizing equipment to prevent injury across diverse procedure types.Multi-instrument field management — simultaneously coordinate retractors, suction, irrigation, and sponge counts during complex surgical cases to maintain continuous operative exposure and patient safety.Multi-layer wound closure — perform closure of skin, fascia, and subcutaneous layers using sutures, staples, and clips across varied anatomical sites and wound complexities with autonomous clinical judgment.Specialized wound dressing application — select and apply advanced dressings, including negative-pressure and antimicrobial options, based on wound assessment for complex post-operative patients.Surgeon case consultation — engage surgeons in substantive pre-operative discussion of consent, diagnostic data, exposure methods, and patient advance directives to align operative planning.Intraoperative critical thinking — anticipate and resolve non-routine intraoperative complications, such as equipment failure or unexpected anatomy, with independent decision-making in the operating room.Cross-functional team coordination — synchronize activities among anesthesia, nursing, and surgical teams during complex procedures to optimize patient outcomes and workflow efficiency.
advanced
Surgical assistant practice standards — establish and champion department-wide protocols for patient verification, aseptic technique, and wound closure in alignment with accreditation and regulatory requirements.Mentorship and clinical training — design and deliver structured on-the-job training programs for emerging and developing surgical assistants within the facility's procedural areas.Quality and safety program leadership — lead root-cause analyses of aseptic breaches, positioning injuries, or wound complications, implementing systemic improvements across the surgical service line.Operative field and positioning policy — author and update institutional policies for patient positioning, padding standards, and sterile field management based on current evidence and adverse-event data.Strategic case planning consultation — partner with surgical directors and department chiefs to review complex case logistics, patient directives, and resource allocation for high-acuity surgical schedules.Technology and equipment governance — evaluate, recommend, and oversee the adoption of new surgical instruments, closure materials, and wound care technologies at the organizational level.Performance competency assessment — develop and administer objective skill-validation tools for surgical assistants, informing credentialing and privileging decisions for the healthcare system.Interdisciplinary policy development — collaborate with nursing leadership, infection control, and risk management to co-author integrated surgical safety and sterility policies across the enterprise.Data-driven outcomes reporting — synthesize operative outcome metrics, wound complication rates, and patient safety data using documentation systems to present actionable recommendations to hospital leadership.Professional and regulatory advocacy — represent surgical assistants in professional bodies, accreditation reviews, and workforce planning forums, shaping scope-of-practice standards at a system or regional level.
Also known as
29 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Certified First Assistant (CFA)Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA)Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA)Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA)Certified Surgical TechnicianClinical AssistantFirst AssistantGastrointestinal Technician (GI Technician)Med Surg PCA (Medical Surgical Patient Care Assistant)Medical Surgical Nursing AssistantOperating Room AssistantOperating Room TechnicianOR Aide (Operating Room Aide)OR Surgical Tech (Operating Room Surgical Technician)Oral Surgery AssistantPerioperative AssistantRegistered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)Surgery AssistantSurgery TechnicianSurgical AideSurgical AssistantSurgical Assistant-Certified (SA-C)Surgical Dental AssistantSurgical First AssistantSurgical Medical AssistantSurgical Scrub Technician (Surgical Scrub Tech)Surgical Services AssistantSurgical Technician (Surgical Tech)