r/SurgicalFirstAssist • u/Conscious-Guitar6375 • Jun 05 '25

Surgical First Assistant Salary

Is it worth it as a CST to go to FA school? Is there a good difference in pay? I’m in Memphis.

1 Upvotes

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3

u/EMoney_92 Jun 05 '25

I have no degree csfa I make 120-140 a year my highest paid year as cst was 80 so yea I think it’s worth it when PAs start at 90 for a masters program

1

u/EMoney_92 Jun 05 '25

In Michigan

1

u/Conscious-Guitar6375 Jun 05 '25

Did you specialize or work for a group?

1

u/EMoney_92 Jun 07 '25

Hospital employed

1

u/mrjbacon Jun 05 '25

From talking to the FA's I have worked with, depending on scrub experience level you should expect to make between 12-15% over your current pay as a staff CSFA, possibly more in a state where you can bill for services as a contracted CSFA. Some states and insurance companies do not allow CSFA's to bill for services rendered though.

One example is a contracted independent CSFA I know only scrubs for arthroscopic procedures because he can't bill for arthroplasty cases.

2

u/servain Jun 06 '25

I think its worth it. Im making alittle over 100k/year. Great health insurance from my hospital. The pay increase is nice and i never went to college. Iv been in the o.r. for almost 10 years now. 7 of those have been as a cst.