Surgical Assistants pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,150 or more. The middle half of surgical assistants in Rochester earn between $65,360 and $93,150.
- $64K10th
- $65K25th
- $77KMedian
- $93K75th
- $93K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,200 | $6,433 | $37.12 |
| Median | $76,880 | $6,407 | $36.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,360 | $5,447 | $31.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $93,150 | $7,762 | $44.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Assistants pay in Rochester vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Surgical assistants in Rochester earn 5% less than the Minnesota average ($80,990) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($72,710). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $66,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $77,200 | $76,880 | $64,060 | $93,150 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $80,990 | $75,950 | $62,110 | $110,300 | 360 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $77,200, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $59,414 a year, or $4,951 a month and $2,285 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for surgical assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $77,200 buys what about $85,002 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($60,620). A typical home costs $343,121, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Assistants salary in other Minnesota cities
Rochester ranks 3rd of 3 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($82,110).
- Minneapolis$82,110
- Duluth$80,980
- Rochester$77,200
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 Rochester: questions
How much do surgical assistants make an hour in Rochester?
$37.12 an hour on average, and $36.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical assistants salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical assistants take-home pay in Rochester?
About $59,414 a year ($4,951 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,200. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do surgical assistants earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Rochester, MN (40340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.23, this job is 2.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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