Surgical Assistants Salary in Charleston, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Median annual salary $96,150 +59.5% vs national
Median hourly $46.23
10th percentile $34,520
90th percentile $146,980
Employed locally 100
National median $60,290

Compare Surgical Assistants salary & buying power

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Surgical Assistants
in
Charleston, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,520
    25th
    $43,510
    50th (median)
    $96,150
    75th
    $108,700
    90th
    $146,980

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Surgical Assistants salary vs area income 117% Median Surgical Assistants salary is 17% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Surgical Assistants

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Florence, SC $133,380
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $116,140
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $115,610
    Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $110,020
    Nevada $110,020
    Arizona $107,500

    Nearby metros — Surgical Assistants salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Florence, SC $133,380
    Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $76,210
    Wisconsin $71,630
    Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $62,000
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $50,880
    Columbia, SC $48,750

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $80,620
    Pharmacy Technicians $44,040
    Physicians, All Other $163,900
    Nurse Practitioners $123,100
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $61,010
    Pharmacists $140,390

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Surgical Assistants make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Surgical Assistants in Charleston, SC is $46.23, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.95 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Surgical Assistants salaries?

    The median Surgical Assistants salary in Charleston, SC is 59.5% above the national median of $60,290. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Surgical Assistants in Charleston?

    Entry-level Surgical Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $34,520 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,510.