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Boston Career Explorer

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

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.

Also called: Certified Surgical Technician (Certified Surgical Tech), CRNFA (Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant), CSA (Certified Surgical Assistant), CSFA (Certified Surgical First Assistant), GI Technician (Gastrointestinal Technician), RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$58,370
$28.06/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
430
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+1.2%
10 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Postsecondary nondegree award

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$40,260$58,370$58,370$62,300$109,510

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
  • Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
  • Pass instruments or supplies to surgeon during procedure.
  • Assist with patient resuscitation during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events.
  • Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
  • Obtain or inspect sterile or non-sterile surgical equipment, instruments, or supplies.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure39 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 53
  • Language-model AIOE 53
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 11

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for surgical assistants is moderate, and observed AI use is little or none. AI tools may help with checklist-style steps like verifying patient and surgery site details. Most of the work is hands-on in the operating room: keeping the field clear, passing instruments, and helping in emergencies.

Likely to change

  • Checklist-style verification of patient and site
  • Record keeping around procedures

Still relies on people

  • Hands-on help during surgery
  • Responding to life-threatening emergencies

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Surgical Technologists

    Sterile technique and operating room skills carry over directly. The same level of training is needed, and Boston median pay is higher.

    Pay difference
    +$23,130 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +1.9%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

  • Medical Equipment Preparers

    Your knowledge of sterile supplies and equipment carries over. It needs only a high school diploma, has faster growth, and has low AI exposure.

    Pay difference
    +$2,470 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +8.8%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Firefighters

    Resuscitation and emergency care skills carry over. Firefighters have low AI exposure and higher Boston median pay, but training takes longer.

    Pay difference
    +$15,620 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.4%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

7 programs near Boston

Related occupations

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