Surgical First Assistant Jobs in Minnesota
Surgical First Assistant jobs in Minnesota are consistently in demand, with hiring concentrated in hospital-based surgical departments, ambulatory surgery centers, and multi-specialty clinic groups across the Twin Cities, Rochester, and Duluth. Major health systems with deep Minnesota roots and steady surgical volumes, including Mayo Clinic, M Health Fairview, and Allina Health, are among the most active employers of surgical first assistants in the state. Orthopedic, cardiovascular, and general surgery are the specialties driving the most consistent openings at every experience level. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Surgical First Assistant JobsOverview
Showing 3 of 6+ Surgical First Assistant jobs
0.6 FTE- Day/Evening Shifts $5,000.00 sign on bonus with work commitment
Starting wage - $37.14 - $55.71 (based on experience)
Offers for external candidates are generally made between the minimum and midpoint of the range, based on experience.
Qualifications:
- Graduate of a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP) Surgical Assistant program or NSAA-approved Mayo Clinic Program
- Certified as a Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA)
- Previous operating room experience or training within the past 3 years preferred
- BLS certified within 90 days of hire
Job Responsibilities:
- Provides visualization of the operative site.
- Utilizes appropriate techniques to assist with hemostasis.
- Utilizes appropriate techniques in closure of body planes.
- Selects and applies appropriate wound dressings.
- Provides assistance in securing drainage system to tissue.
- Participates in volume replacement or auto transfusion techniques as appropriate.
- Assists with positioning the patient.
- May prepare the skin for procedure (shave and prep).
- May insert bladder catheter.
- May act as a scrub technician per staffing needs.
- May retrieve patients from pre-operative area.
- Demonstrates open communication; team oriented.
- Maintains confidentiality.
- Maintains ongoing self-development.
- Acts in a professional manner.
- Lifting, pushing, and pulling instruments and pans throughout the sterilization process.
- Performs repetitive motions throughout shift.
- Other duties as assigned.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
0.6 FTE- Day/Evening Shifts $5,000.00 sign on bonus with work commitment
Starting wage - $37.14 - $55.71 (based on experience)
Offers for external candidates are generally made between the minimum and midpoint of the range, based on experience.
Qualifications:
- Graduate of a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP) Surgical Assistant program or NSAA-approved Mayo Clinic Program
- Certified as a Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA)
- Previous operating room experience or training within the past 3 years preferred
- BLS certified within 90 days of hire
Job Responsibilities:
- Provides visualization of the operative site.
- Utilizes appropriate techniques to assist with hemostasis.
- Utilizes appropriate techniques in closure of body planes.
- Selects and applies appropriate wound dressings.
- Provides assistance in securing drainage system to tissue.
- Participates in volume replacement or auto transfusion techniques as appropriate.
- Assists with positioning the patient.
- May prepare the skin for procedure (shave and prep).
- May insert bladder catheter.
- May act as a scrub technician per staffing needs.
- May retrieve patients from pre-operative area.
- Demonstrates open communication; team oriented.
- Maintains confidentiality.
- Maintains ongoing self-development.
- Acts in a professional manner.
- Lifting, pushing, and pulling instruments and pans throughout the sterilization process.
- Performs repetitive motions throughout shift.
- Other duties as assigned.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
See All 6 Surgical First Assistant Jobs in Minnesota
Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Surgical First Assistant JobsSurgical First Assistant Jobs by City in Minnesota
Where Minnesota roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Surgical First Assistant Job Market in Minnesota
A snapshot from current Minnesota openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Minnesota Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in surgical first assistant jobs across Minnesota.
- Active NCSA, ABSA, or ARC/STSA certification recognized by Minnesota surgical employers
- Completion of an accredited surgical first assistant or surgical technology program
- Minimum two years of scrubbing or first-assisting experience in an operating room
- Strong familiarity with sterile technique and instrument-specific protocols for multiple specialties
- Current BLS and ACLS certification required before starting in most Minnesota facilities
- Ability to work call shifts and weekends in high-volume Minnesota hospital environments
Surgical First Assistant Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a surgical first assistant in Minnesota?
You become a surgical first assistant in Minnesota by completing an accredited surgical first assistant or surgical technology program, then earning a nationally recognized credential such as the Certified Surgical First Assistant from the National Surgical Assistant Association or certification through the American Board of Surgical Assistants. Minnesota does not issue a separate state license for surgical first assistants, so hospitals and surgery centers in the state rely on these national credentials along with verified operating room experience as the hiring standard.
How much do surgical first assistants make in Minnesota?
Surgical first assistants in Minnesota earn a median of about $75,950 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $62,110 for the lowest 10% to over $110,300 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire surgical first assistants in Minnesota?
Companies currently hiring surgical first assistants in Minnesota include MPOWERHealth and Olmsted Medical Center, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Minnesota's large integrated health systems and free-standing ambulatory surgery centers each hire throughout the year, with the highest volumes typically tied to high-acuity surgical departments across the metro and regional markets.
Which Minnesota cities have the most surgical first assistant jobs?
Winona, Rochester, and Owatonna account for the most surgical first assistant openings in Minnesota. The Twin Cities metro leads because of the density of major health systems and ambulatory surgery centers concentrated there, while Rochester's job market is anchored heavily by Mayo Clinic's large surgical program, and Duluth draws volume from its role as the primary regional medical hub for northeastern Minnesota.
How can I get hired as a surgical first assistant in Minnesota with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting as a surgical technologist in a Minnesota hospital and cross-training into a first-assistant role over time. Large Minnesota systems like Allina Health and M Health Fairview regularly hire surgical technologists at the associate level, and some operate new-graduate onboarding programs that include mentored OR rotations. Earning your Certified Surgical Technologist credential first gives you a competitive edge, and lateral moves from scrub tech or OR circulator roles are the most common route to a first-assistant title in Minnesota facilities.
Where can I find and apply to surgical first assistant jobs in Minnesota?
You can find and apply to surgical first assistant jobs in Minnesota on Migrate Mate, which lists current Minnesota openings across health systems, ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty surgical groups. Search the listings, find the roles that match your specialty experience and schedule preferences, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 6 Surgical First Assistant Jobs in Minnesota
Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Surgical First Assistant Jobs