Jobs Similar to Surgical Assistants
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to surgical assistants, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Anesthesiologist Assistants, Respiratory Therapists and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists.
Surgical Assistants: $66,800 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Surgical Assistants) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anesthesiologist Assistants | 79% | $135,880Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Respiratory Therapists | 78% | $82,280+23% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | 78% | $95,480+43% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Nurse Anesthetists | 77% | $236,590+254% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 76% | $96,590+45% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Critical Care Nurses | 76% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | 76% | $80,110+20% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 75% | $101,370+52% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Radiologists | 75% | $420,860+530% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Paramedics | 75% | $60,600−9% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 74% | $74,310+11% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 74% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 13 | Anesthesiologists | 74% | $391,490+486% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 74% | $47,380−29% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 73% | $64,400−4% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Athletic TrainersSame group | 73% | $62,520−6% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Dental Hygienists | 73% | $98,100+47% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 72% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 19 | Surgical Technologists | 72% | $64,650−3% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Acute Care Nurses | 72% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Anesthesiologist Assistants
79% similar · $135,880 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 2Respiratory Therapists
78% similar · $82,280 (+23%) · Training or associate
- 3Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
78% similar · $95,480 (+43%) · Training or associate
- 4Nurse Anesthetists
77% similar · $236,590 (+254%) · Graduate degree
- 5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
76% similar · $96,590 (+45%) · Training or associate
- 6Critical Care Nurses
76% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
76% similar · $80,110 (+20%) · Training or associate
- 8Nuclear Medicine Technologists
75% similar · $101,370 (+52%) · Training or associate
- 9Radiologists
75% similar · $420,860 (+530%) · Graduate degree
- 10Paramedics
75% similar · $60,600 (−9%) · Training or associate
- 11Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
74% similar · $74,310 (+11%) · Training or associate
- 12Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
74% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 13Anesthesiologists
74% similar · $391,490 (+486%) · Graduate degree
- 14Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
74% similar · $47,380 (−29%) · Training or associate
- 15Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
73% similar · $64,400 (−4%) · Training or associate
- 16Athletic Trainers
73% similar · $62,520 (−6%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 17Dental Hygienists
73% similar · $98,100 (+47%) · Training or associate
- 18Neurodiagnostic Technologists
72% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 19Surgical Technologists
72% similar · $64,650 (−3%) · Training or associate
- 20Acute Care Nurses
72% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than surgical assistants.
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists75% similar · $101,370 (+52%)
- Dental Hygienists73% similar · $98,100 (+47%)
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers76% similar · $96,590 (+45%)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists78% similar · $95,480 (+43%)
- Respiratory Therapists78% similar · $82,280 (+23%)
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians76% similar · $80,110 (+20%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for surgical assistants also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where surgical assistants is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (84)
- Paramedics (82)
- Surgical Technologists (82)
- Dental Assistants (81)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (81)
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (78)
- Embalmers (78)
- Medical Assistants (78)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (78)
- Physical Therapist Assistants (78)
Questions about jobs like surgical assistants
What jobs are most similar to surgical assistants?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Anesthesiologist Assistants (79% similar), Respiratory Therapists (78% similar), Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (78% similar), Nurse Anesthetists (77% similar) and Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (76% similar).
Which jobs like surgical assistants pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Radiologists ($420,860, +530%; usually a graduate degree), Anesthesiologists ($391,490, +486%; usually a graduate degree) and Nurse Anesthetists ($236,590, +254%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with surgical assistants ($66,800). Without more preparation than surgical assistants usually need: Nuclear Medicine Technologists, Dental Hygienists and Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.