Healthcare · SOC 29-9093
Live surgical assist demands physical dexterity, real-time judgment, and team communication that AI cannot replicate.
Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
Timeline: Surgical robots are tools that still require trained human assistants to set up, drape, and respond to intraoperative changes — this role has near-zero automation risk for the next 10–15 years.
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$99,000 median pay
$166,000 median pay
$86,000 median pay
Healthcare
$230,000 median pay
$152,800 median pay
AI job-risk card
Surgical Assistants is resilient on AIFear. Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Surgical Assistants is 12/100 (Resilient). Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
12 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Documenting post-procedure skin integrity assessments. Harder to automate: Monitoring and maintaining sterile field throughout surgery, Covering and draping patients to sustain sterile operative conditions, Managing retractors, sponges, and suction in real time, Advising surgeons on technique, consent, and patient directives.
Lean into Advanced sterile technique, Surgical anatomy and procedures, Intraoperative team communication, First assisting in complex surgeries. Consider roles such as Certified surgical first assistant (CSFA) or Operating room RN (with bridge education) or Surgical robotics specialist.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.