Surgical First Assistant Jobs in Tennessee
Surgical first assistant jobs in Tennessee are consistently active, with demand concentrated in hospital-based surgical suites, orthopedic specialty centers, and cardiovascular programs serving the state's aging population at every level from newly credentialed through senior first assist. The largest hiring markets are Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, where systems like HCA Healthcare, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Tennova Healthcare maintain ongoing surgical staffing needs. The most in-demand specialties are orthopedic, cardiovascular, and general surgery. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 4 of 26+ Surgical First Assistant jobs
Patient Partners Surgery Center is Hiring a Certified First Assistant PRN
No weekends, No Holidays, No Call!
Welcome to Patient Partners Surgery Center! Patient Partners Surgery Center is a dynamic, fast-paced facility dedicated to delivering exceptional care and providing the highest quality experience for both patients and their families.
Certified First Assistant Registered at Patient Partners Surgery Center
A surgical first assistant plays a vital role in a successful surgical procedure. They are primarily in charge of assisting surgeons, such as by arranging and handing over tools, holding open incisions, and dressing surgical wounds.
Qualifications
- High School Diploma/GED
- Completion of a Surgical Technician Program.
- NBSTSA Surgical First Assistant Certification required.
- Two years of Certified Surgical First Assistant experience in multiple specialties or an equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.
- Able to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. Other skills and abilities: General familiarity with medical terminology as it pertains to anatomy and surgical procedures in an operating room.
What We Offer
As an organization, one way we care for our communities and each other is by providing a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage
- Life and AD&D coverage
- Availability of short- and long-term disability
- Flexible financial benefits including FSAs and HSAs
- 401(k) and access to retirement planning
- Paid holidays and vacation
Who We Are
At USPI, we create relationships that create better care. We partner with physicians and healthcare systems to provide first-class ambulatory solutions throughout the United States. We are committed to providing surgical services in the most efficient and clinically excellent manner.
USPI is committed to, and proud of, our inclusive culture. An inclusive culture, in our view, is respectful of differences and nurtures and supports the contributions of each individual, while also embracing and leveraging diversity. A diverse workforce, combined with an inclusive culture, makes USPI stronger and better able to meet the needs of our diverse patient and physician population.
#LI-SB1
#USP-123
Patient Partners Surgery Center is Hiring a Certified First Assistant PRN
No weekends, No Holidays, No Call!
Welcome to Patient Partners Surgery Center! Patient Partners Surgery Center is a dynamic, fast-paced facility dedicated to delivering exceptional care and providing the highest quality experience for both patients and their families.
Certified First Assistant Registered at Patient Partners Surgery Center
A surgical first assistant plays a vital role in a successful surgical procedure. They are primarily in charge of assisting surgeons, such as by arranging and handing over tools, holding open incisions, and dressing surgical wounds.
Qualifications
- High School Diploma/GED
- Completion of a Surgical Technician Program.
- NBSTSA Surgical First Assistant Certification required.
- Two years of Certified Surgical First Assistant experience in multiple specialties or an equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.
- Able to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. Other skills and abilities: General familiarity with medical terminology as it pertains to anatomy and surgical procedures in an operating room.
What We Offer
As an organization, one way we care for our communities and each other is by providing a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage
- Life and AD&D coverage
- Availability of short- and long-term disability
- Flexible financial benefits including FSAs and HSAs
- 401(k) and access to retirement planning
- Paid holidays and vacation
Who We Are
At USPI, we create relationships that create better care. We partner with physicians and healthcare systems to provide first-class ambulatory solutions throughout the United States. We are committed to providing surgical services in the most efficient and clinically excellent manner.
USPI is committed to, and proud of, our inclusive culture. An inclusive culture, in our view, is respectful of differences and nurtures and supports the contributions of each individual, while also embracing and leveraging diversity. A diverse workforce, combined with an inclusive culture, makes USPI stronger and better able to meet the needs of our diverse patient and physician population.
#LI-SB1
#USP-123
See All 26 Surgical First Assistant Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Surgical First Assistant JobsSurgical First Assistant Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Surgical First Assistant Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in surgical first assistant jobs across Tennessee.
- Active CST or CSFA credential recognized for surgical first assisting in Tennessee
- Minimum two years of scrub technologist or surgical technologist experience required
- Current BLS and ACLS certification required before start date
- Demonstrated first-assist experience in orthopedic, cardiovascular, or general surgery
- Completion of an accredited surgical first assistant education program
- Familiarity with robotic-assisted surgical platforms, including da Vinci systems
Surgical First Assistant Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a surgical first assistant in Tennessee?
The standard path in Tennessee is to hold an active Certified Surgical Technologist credential through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, then complete an accredited surgical first assistant program and sit for the Certified Surgical First Assistant exam. Tennessee does not issue a separate state license for surgical first assistants, so hospital credentialing decisions rely on national certification. Large Tennessee health systems typically require both the CSFA credential and documented clinical hours before granting first-assist privileges.
How much do surgical first assistants make in Tennessee?
Surgical first assistants in Tennessee earn a median of about $81,640 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $59,370 for the lowest 10% to over $102,350 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire surgical first assistants in Tennessee?
Employers hiring surgical first assistants in Tennessee right now include Ascension, TriStar Health, and CommonSpirit Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Tennessee's large integrated health systems tend to post the most consistent volume, particularly for candidates with orthopedic or cardiovascular first-assist experience.
Which Tennessee cities have the most surgical first assistant jobs?
Nashville, Chattanooga, and Hermitage have the most surgical first assistant openings in Tennessee. Nashville leads because of its concentration of major health system headquarters and tertiary referral centers, while Memphis supports high surgical volume through its trauma and transplant programs, and Knoxville draws demand from regional medical centers serving East Tennessee's growing population.
Are there remote surgical first assistant jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, but they're rare. Surgical first assisting is a hands-on, sterile-field role that requires physical presence in the operating room, so remote or hybrid arrangements are uncommon. About 33% of surgical first assistant openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those positions typically involve administrative, training coordination, or clinical education functions rather than direct patient-side surgical work.
How can I get hired as a surgical first assistant in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is coming in as a certified surgical technologist first, building scrub experience across orthopedic or general surgery cases, then enrolling in a formal surgical first assistant program. Large Tennessee systems like Vanderbilt University Medical Center and HCA-affiliated hospitals in Nashville and Memphis periodically hire surgical technologists into structured advancement tracks. Earning your CST and accumulating documented case counts in high-volume specialties gives you the strongest foundation when applying for first-assist roles or employer-sponsored training programs.
Where can I find and apply to surgical first assistant jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to surgical first assistant jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current Tennessee openings across health systems, specialty surgery centers, and regional hospitals. Find roles that fit your credentials and experience and apply directly from each listing.
See All 26 Surgical First Assistant Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Surgical First Assistant Jobs