Surgical Assistants in Louisiana
Want to work as a Surgical Assistants in Louisiana? Here’s what you need to know. 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 Louisiana?
The surgical assistants working in Louisiana, wages run about $41,810 per year (or roughly $20.10/hour).Pay can range from $29,490 at the 10th percentile to $64,780 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,490 | $14.18 |
| 25th percentile | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Median (50th) | $41,810 | $20.10 |
| 75th percentile | $61,470 | $29.56 |
| 90th percentile | $64,780 | $31.15 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Louisiana compared to the national average — is 0.22, indicating fewer surgical assistants per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, surgical assistants earn a median of $141,004 per year ($67.79/hour), lower than the Louisiana median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 984,146 surgical assistants across the United States. In Louisiana alone, around 60 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 250 surgical assistants.
Top States for Surgical Assistants Employment
The table below shows the states where the most 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
The most important surgical assistants skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core 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
Day-to-day, 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?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- 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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