Surgical Assistants pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,080 or more. The middle half of surgical assistants in Salem earn between $61,010 and $95,720.
- $61K10th
- $61K25th
- $76KMedian
- $96K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,320 | $6,777 | $39.10 |
| Median | $75,710 | $6,309 | $36.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,010 | $5,084 | $29.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $95,720 | $7,977 | $46.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Assistants pay in Salem vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Surgical assistants in Salem earn 11% less than the Oregon average ($91,610) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($72,710). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $66,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $81,320 | $75,710 | $61,000 | $124,080 | 30 |
| Oregon | $91,610 | $80,450 | $61,960 | $127,010 | 220 |
| 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 Salem
On the average salary of $81,320, a single filer in Salem takes home about $60,224 a year, or $5,019 a month and $2,316 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for surgical assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $81,320 buys what about $78,457 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Assistants salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 2nd of 2 Oregon metro areas for this job; Portland pays the most ($93,690).
- Portland$93,690
- Salem$81,320
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 Salem: questions
How much do surgical assistants make an hour in Salem?
$39.10 an hour on average, and $36.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical assistants salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical assistants take-home pay in Salem?
About $60,224 a year ($5,019 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,320. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do surgical assistants earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 16.0%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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