skip to main content
MENU

Military Surgical Assistants

Military Career

General Information

Description

Surgical assistants provide care, safety, and support to service members and their families before, during, and after surgery. They assist physicians and other healthcare providers by preparing the operating room, sterilizing the surgical instruments, and assisting with anesthesia. These professionals may need to assist with surgery for injuries resulting from combat or other disasters.  

Explore this career outside the Military

Work Environment

Surgical assistants work in hospitals and clinics on land or aboard ships. In combat situations, they may work in mobile field hospitals.

Comparable Industries

  • Health Science

Related Military Careers

No Information for this section

Military Outlook

Service Branches

Jobs in this career field may be available in other service branches. Call or email a particular branch for more info.

Military Status

  • Enlisted
    • Hands-on/specialized
    • High school diploma required

Military Workforce

Surgical Assistants in the Military

10,959

No Information for this section

Salary

Salary Information

Median Military Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$83,396

Military Salary Range Salary varies based on years of service, degree level, special pays, family status and location. Learn more about Military benefits.

$25,840 - $362,582

What makes up a Military salary?

Military salaries include a lot more than just base pay.

They also offer:

  • Housing allowances
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Special and incentive pays
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Hazardous-duty pay
  • Bonuses

Learn more about what goes into a salary with the compensation estimator

Learn more about military insurance and retirement benefits

No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Associate's degree 24%
  • Post baccalaureate 16%
  • Post-secondary certificate 15%
  • High school 13%
  • Some college 10%
  • Master's degree 7%
  • Bachelor's degree 7%
  • Post-doctoral training 4%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Military training

All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Surgical assistants in the Military will gain skills through classroom study, laboratory demonstrations, practical exercises, and on-the-job experience. Job-specific training content may include: Patient care techniquesEmergency medical treatmentMethods of sterilizing surgical equipmentWorking on a medical teamBasic nursing careMinor surgical proceduresClinical laboratory proceduresMethods for diagnosing diseasesMedical management information systems

Read More

Military training

×

All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Surgical assistants in the Military will gain skills through classroom study, laboratory demonstrations, practical exercises, and on-the-job experience. Job-specific training content may include:

  • Patient care techniques
  • Emergency medical treatment
  • Methods of sterilizing surgical equipment
  • Working on a medical team
  • Basic nursing care
  • Minor surgical procedures
  • Clinical laboratory procedures
  • Methods for diagnosing diseases
  • Medical management information systems

Knowledge

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Education and Training
  • Biology
  • Psychology

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

No Information for this section

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.