Surgical Assistant

Explore This Path

Ideal for those passionate about hands-on medical procedures and patient care.
Play a crucial role in successful surgeries, ensuring patient safety and precision.
Unique chance to work closely with surgeons, enhancing your medical expertise.

💰 Earn $44K-$67K

📚 Vocational Training

⏱️ 12–24 MONTH TRAINING

📈 6.7% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

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.

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.

Scoop

Minimum Education

Vocational Training

Career Prospects

Excellent (Increasing by 5% or more)

Training Time

1 to 2 years

Job Openings

1,500 Annually

Median Earnings

$45,730 in California

$59,160 Nationally

$25K

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Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Relating with or serving others
Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Writing
Monitoring
Reading Comprehension

You value 🙏

Accomplishing things
Having support
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Surgical Assistant

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years