Occupations/29-9093.00
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.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
24%
More resilient
Human characteristics
77%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
69%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly human
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.
- Mostly routine
Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
- Mostly routine
Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
Split from the wording of these tasks, shown next to the occupation’s AI risk. It is not a separate score for each task, and it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
- 02Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
- 03Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
- 04Coordinate 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.
- 05Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
- 06Prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.69
- Degree of automation2.00
- Time sitting1.96
- Originality (ability)2.88
- Conflict situations3.33
- Hands-on objects/tools4.49
- Outdoors / weather1.01
- Disease exposure4.46
- Decision freedom3.51
Top abilities
- Oral Comprehension4.12
- Near Vision4.00
- Finger Dexterity4.00
- Arm-Hand Steadiness4.00
- Speech Clarity3.88
- Problem Sensitivity3.88
- Oral Expression3.88
- Written Comprehension3.75
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.62
- Active Listening4.00
- Writing3.12
- Speaking3.75
- Mathematics2.50
- Science2.62
- Critical Thinking3.62
- Active Learning3.00
- Learning Strategies3.12
- Monitoring3.62
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 64 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr $122,902 2 yr $112,319 Master's · CIP 51.09 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $12,600 | 48% | 84% | 1 yr $120,847 2 yr $121,294 Bachelor's · CIP 51.09 |
Augsburg University Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofit | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $43,600 | 76% | 64% | 1 yr $111,992 2 yr $111,435 Master's · CIP 51.09 |
North Dakota State University Fargo, ND · Public | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $10,900 | 96% | 68% | 1 yr $110,432 2 yr $101,645 Master's · CIP 51.09 |
Howard University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $33,200 | 53% | 65% | 1 yr $103,555 2 yr $104,061 Master's · CIP 51.09 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL · Public | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $4,600 | 100% | 27% | 1 yr $103,078 2 yr $106,838 Master's · CIP 51.09 |
Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC · Public | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $2,900 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr $101,645 2 yr $98,551 Master's · CIP 51.09 |
Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI · Public | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $4,900 | 100% | 27% | 1 yr $98,784 2 yr $105,529 Master's · CIP 51.09 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $11,200 | 49% | 89% | 1 yr $98,766 2 yr $100,213 Professional · CIP 51.09 |
University of Florida Gainesville, FL · Public | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $6,400 | 23% | 89% | 1 yr $97,673 2 yr $101,327 Master's · CIP 51.09 |
Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI · Public | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $4,700 | 100% | 34% | 1 yr $66,541 2 yr $57,318 Bachelor's · CIP 51.09 |
Emory University Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit | Surgical Technology/Technologist 51.0909 | $60,800 | 11% | 91% | 1 yr $63,997 2 yr $57,318 Bachelor's · CIP 51.09 |