Travel Surgical First Assistant Salary Guide
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A surgical first assistant is an allied health professional who helps surgeons perform various procedures. The role requires frequent interaction with surgeons, registered nurses, surgical technologists and other medical professionals. As a surgical first assistant, you may perform the following duties:
Position the patient to provide direct access to the surgical site
Inject local anesthetics
Retract incisions to provide better visualization
Insert wound drains, trocars and other items into the body
Suture and cauterize tissue
Apply surgical dressings
Clamp blood vessels
Monitor patients for complications
How do you become a surgical first assistant?
To become a surgical first assistant, you need an associate degree in a closely related allied health profession or a bachelor's degree in health sciences. The program you choose should include courses in human anatomy, biology and other basic sciences, coupled with opportunities to gain hands-on skills in an operating room setting.
As of May 2023, only eight states and the District of Columbia have licensure requirements for surgical assistants, according to the Association for Surgical Technologists. The requirements vary slightly from one state to the next, so check with your licensing body to determine if you're eligible.
What credentials/licensing does a surgical first assistant require?
Even if your state doesn't require a license to practice, potential employers often prefer to hire employees with nationally recognized certifications. The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting offers the Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) credential for graduates of accredited SFA programs. You may be eligible if you graduated from an SFA program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs during enrollment. To obtain the CSFA, you must pass an exam consisting of 150 scored questions.
Average Travel Surgical First Assistant Salary
$2,644/week
The average salary for a Travel Surgical First Assistant is $2,644 per week. This is 4% higher than the practicing US average of $2,526.
Last updated on October 29, 2026. Based on 51 active jobs on Vivian.com in the last 7 days.
Salaries for Travel Surgical First Assistant compared to Allied Health Professional National Averages
$2,644/week
4% higher than the practicing US average.
$2,526/week
United States
Where do Travel Surgical First Assistants get paid the most?
Massachusetts pays Travel Surgical First Assistants the most, averaging $3,902 per week, followed by Oregon ($2,627) and Wisconsin ($2,597). Massachusetts also has the highest ceiling, with max weekly pay reaching $4,080. For comparison, the national average for Travel Surgical First Assistants is $2,644 per week — Massachusetts pays 48% more.
| State | Average Weekly Salary | Max Weekly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $3,902 | $4,080 |
| Oregon | $2,627 | $2,743 |
| Wisconsin | $2,597 | $2,837 |
| Tennessee | $2,520 | $2,520 |
| Virginia | $2,495 | $2,732 |
| North Carolina | $2,317 | $2,587 |
| Florida | $2,296 | $3,007 |
| Ohio | $2,255 | $2,550 |
| Utah | $1,880 | $1,984 |
What cities pay the most for Travel Surgical First Assistants?
Pittsfield, Massachusetts pays Travel Surgical First Assistants the most, averaging $3,902 per week, followed by Portland, Oregon ($2,627) and Clinton, Maryland ($2,379). Pittsfield, Massachusetts also has the highest ceiling, with max weekly pay reaching $4,080. For comparison, the national average for Travel Surgical First Assistants is $2,644 per week — Pittsfield, Massachusetts pays 48% more.
| City | Average Weekly Salary | Max Weekly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield, Massachusetts | $3,902 | $4,080 |
| Portland, Oregon | $2,627 | $2,743 |
| Clinton, Maryland | $2,379 | $2,379 |
| Asheville, North Carolina | $2,226 | $2,323 |
| Washington, District of Columbia | $2,199 | $2,199 |
| Hendersonville, North Carolina | $2,058 | $2,058 |
| Salt Lake City, Utah | $1,880 | $1,984 |
What are the highest paying Employers and Agencies for Travel Surgical First Assistant jobs?
GLC On-The-Go pays Travel Surgical First Assistants the most, averaging $4,080 per week, followed by Care Career ($4,056) and Access Healthcare ($4,032). For comparison, the national average for Travel Surgical First Assistants is $2,644 per week — GLC On-The-Go pays 54% more.
| Average Weekly Salary | Max Weekly Salary | |
|---|---|---|
| GLC On-The-Go | $4,080 | $4,080 |
| Care Career | $4,056 | $4,056 |
| Access Healthcare | $4,032 | $4,032 |
| Solomon Page | $3,908 | $3,908 |
| Medical Talent | $3,816 | $3,816 |
| Stability Healthcare | $3,808 | $3,808 |
| PRIDE Health | $3,799 | $3,799 |
| Triage Staffing | $3,668 | $3,668 |
| CT Assist | $3,648 | $3,648 |
| Voca Healthcare | $3,289 | $3,956 |
Last updated on October 29, 2026. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com.
Travel Surgical First Assistant Career Guide
Use our exclusive Career Guides to research the education, qualifications, skills and responsibilities for a variety of healthcare disciplines and specialties employers are hiring now.
Go to the guideTop Travel Surgical First Assistant Jobs
First Assist RN
- Pittsfield, Massachusetts
- Crane Center for Ambulatory Surgery
- Medical Talent and 10 others
UP TO $4,080/wk
First Assist Technician
- Nashville, Tennessee
- TriStar Centennial Medical Center
- Uniti Med and 3 others
UP TO $2,022/wk
First Assist RN
- Pittsfield, MA
- GLC On-The-Go
- 5x8 hrs
$4,080/week
First Assist RN
- Pittsfield, MA
- Care Career
- 5x8 hrs, Days
- Referral Bonus
$4,056/week
First Assist RN
- Pittsfield, MA
- Access Healthcare
- 5x8 hrs, Days
$4,032/week
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How can you increase your pay as a travel surgical first assistant?
To earn more as a surgical first assistant, accept high-paying travel assignments. If you multiply the average hourly rate for staff jobs by 40, you get an average weekly salary of just under $1,382. A review of Vivian Health's salary data for the week ending May 13, 2023, shows that travel surgical first assistant jobs paid an average of $2,854 per week. That's more than double the staff rate. Even if you can only travel for a year, accepting travel assignments can help you maximize your earnings.
How much does a travel surgical first assistant make?
Travel surgical first assistants earned an average of $2,854 per week, according to Vivian Health's salary data for the week ending May 13, 2023.
Do travel surgical first assistants earn more than staff surgical first assistants?
Your salary greatly depends on your level of experience, location and several other factors. However, per Vivian Health's salary data for the week ending May 13, 2023, travel surgical first assistants typically earned more than staff surgical first assistants. Staff jobs averaged $34.54 per hour, multiplied by 40 hours provides a weekly salary of just under $1,382. In contrast, travel surgical first assistants had an average weekly wage of $2,854, more than double their staff counterparts.
What states employ the most surgical first assistants?
BLS analysts report that these five states had the most surgical assistants as of May 2022:
Florida: 1,870
Tennessee: 1,790
Texas: 1,740
Georgia: 800
Michigan: 780
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