Surgical Assistants in Florida
Thinking about a career as a Surgical Assistants in Florida? Here’s what the data says. 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. Excludes “Registered Nurses” (29-1141) and “Surgical Technologists” (29-2055).
What do Surgical Assistants Make in Florida?
The surgical assistants working in Florida, wages run about $50,920 per year (or about $24.48/hour).Annual wages span from $42,750 at the 10th percentile to $92,050 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,750 | $20.56 |
| 25th percentile | $48,780 | $23.45 |
| Median (50th) | $50,920 | $24.48 |
| 75th percentile | $72,490 | $34.85 |
| 90th percentile | $92,050 | $44.25 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Florida compared to the national average — is 1.43, suggesting that surgical assistants are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, surgical assistants earn a median of $141,004 per year ($67.79/hour), below the Florida median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 984,146 surgical assistants nationwide. In Florida alone, about 2,080 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 250 surgical assistants.
Top Florida Metros for Surgical Assistants
The metro areas below employ the most surgical assistants in Florida.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 540 | $52,730 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 420 | $49,570 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 100 | $52,390 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 100 | $56,300 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 60 | $47,830 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 60 | $49,350 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 50 | $50,180 |
| Ocala, FL | 50 | $47,710 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | 40 | $49,920 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 40 | $48,930 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | 40 | $48,930 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 40 | $46,440 |
Top States for Surgical Assistants Employment
These states have the highest employment of surgical assistants work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 2,770 |
| Florida | 2,080 |
| Illinois | 1,220 |
| Virginia | 1,210 |
| Georgia | 1,010 |
| Tennessee | 1,010 |
| Maryland | 950 |
| North Carolina | 890 |
| Ohio | 840 |
| Michigan | 760 |
| Wisconsin | 630 |
| Oregon | 600 |
| Indiana | 530 |
| South Carolina | 520 |
| New York | 500 |
| Pennsylvania | 500 |
| Missouri | 380 |
| Kentucky | 360 |
| Utah | 330 |
| Oklahoma | 280 |
Highest-Paying States for Surgical Assistants
These states pay the most for surgical assistants.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $110,020 |
| Arizona | $107,500 |
| District of Columbia | $105,080 |
| Minnesota | $100,000 |
| South Carolina | $98,340 |
| Kentucky | $81,710 |
| Tennessee | $78,330 |
| Texas | $76,510 |
| New Hampshire | $74,880 |
| New Jersey | $73,600 |
Skills
Top surgical assistants skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for surgical assistants, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Surgical Assistants typically:
- Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
- Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
- Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
- Coordinate or participate in the positioning of patients, using body stabilizing equipment or protective padding to provide appropriate exposure for the procedure or to protect against nerve damage or circulation impairment.
- Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
- Prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.
- Apply sutures, staples, clips, or other materials to close skin, facia, or subcutaneous wound layers.
- Discuss with surgeon the nature of the surgical procedure, including operative consent, methods of operative exposure, diagnostic or laboratory data, or patient-advanced directives or other needs.
- Determine availability of necessary equipment or supplies for operative procedures.
- Clamp, ligate, or cauterize blood vessels to control bleeding during surgical entry, using hemostatic clamps, suture ligatures, or electrocautery equipment.
- Assess skin integrity or other body conditions upon completion of the procedure to determine if damage has occurred from body positioning.
- Assist with patient resuscitation during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events.
Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Getting Information
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: MEDITECH software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Allied Health Professions
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Related Careers
Related occupations to surgical assistants include:
- Physician Assistants
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Respiratory Therapists
- Acute Care Nurses
- Critical Care Nurses
- Nurse Anesthetists
Also Known As
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 Technician, Clinical Assistant, First Assistant, Gastrointestinal Technician (GI Technician), Med Surg PCA (Medical Surgical Patient Care Assistant), Medical Surgical Nursing Assistant, OR Aide (Operating Room Aide), OR Surgical Tech (Operating Room Surgical Technician), Operating Room Assistant, Operating Room Technician.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-9093.00
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