Surgical Assistants Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $51,930 -13.9% vs national
Median hourly $24.97
10th percentile $37,610
90th percentile $61,650
National median $60,290

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Surgical Assistants
in
Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,610
    25th
    $44,550
    50th (median)
    $51,930
    75th
    $61,650
    90th
    $61,650

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Surgical Assistants salary vs area income 86% Median Surgical Assistants salary is 14% below 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
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $98,910
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $89,120
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $79,720
    Raleigh-Cary, NC $64,910
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $63,210

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $77,680
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $61,310
    Pharmacy Technicians $38,420
    Emergency Medical Technicians $44,340
    Physicians, All Other $313,460
    Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $63,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Surgical Assistants make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Surgical Assistants in Hickory, NC is $24.97, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.64 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Surgical Assistants salaries?

    The median Surgical Assistants salary in Hickory, NC is 13.9% below 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Surgical Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $37,610 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,550.