Best cities for a medical surgical staff nurse
The best cities for medical surgical staff nurses are Oakland, CA, Sacramento, CA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for medical surgical staff nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for medical surgical staff nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a medical surgical staff nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for medical surgical staff nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for medical surgical staff nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a medical surgical staff nurse. While the absolute best city for medical surgical staff nurses is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for medical surgical staff nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a medical surgical staff nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for medical surgical staff nurses in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $117,204 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 3.47 2. Sacramento, CA
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $116,478 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 0.80 3. San Francisco, CA
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $117,356 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location quotient: 0.46 4. Irvine, CA
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $107,465 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 2.74 5. Henderson, NV
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $75,945 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 5.98 6. Las Vegas, NV
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $76,396 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 1.41 7. Newark, NJ
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $85,031 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 5.35 8. Fremont, CA
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,009 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. San Jose, CA
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $116,901 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 0.06 10. Stockton, CA
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,508 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for medical surgical staff nurses
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Las Vegas, NV
- Newark, NJ
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Stockton, CA
- (8 medical surgical staff nurse jobs)
- (4 medical surgical staff nurse jobs)
- (11 medical surgical staff nurse jobs)
- (18 medical surgical staff nurse jobs)
- (4 medical surgical staff nurse jobs)
- (8 medical surgical staff nurse jobs)
- (15 medical surgical staff nurse jobs)
- (0 medical surgical staff nurse jobs)
- (1 medical surgical staff nurse jobs)
- (0 medical surgical staff nurse jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a medical surgical staff nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $117,204 | $68,000 | 420,005 | 8 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $116,478 | $67,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $117,356 | $68,000 | 870,887 | 11 |
| 4 | Irvine, CA | $107,465 | $63,000 | 266,122 | 18 |
| 5 | Henderson, NV | $75,945 | $44,000 | 292,969 | 4 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $76,396 | $45,000 | 632,912 | 8 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $85,031 | $44,000 | 281,764 | 15 |
| 8 | Fremont, CA | $117,009 | $68,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $116,901 | $68,000 | 1,025,350 | 1 |
| 10 | Stockton, CA | $116,508 | $67,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 11 | Fresno, CA | $114,955 | $67,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,641 | $64,000 | 3,976,322 | 2 |
| 13 | Long Beach, CA | $107,965 | $63,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 14 | Anaheim, CA | $107,841 | $63,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 15 | Bakersfield, CA | $112,101 | $65,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 16 | Santa Ana, CA | $107,649 | $63,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 17 | Riverside, CA | $107,553 | $63,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 18 | Tucson, AZ | $72,108 | $43,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 19 | New York, NY | $87,106 | $45,000 | 8,537,673 | 20 |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $80,179 | $46,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,428 | $36,000 | 303,625 | 22 |
| 22 | San Diego, CA | $105,834 | $62,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 23 | Chula Vista, CA | $105,566 | $62,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 24 | North Las Vegas, NV | $76,291 | $44,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 25 | Toledo, OH | $62,704 | $36,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 26 | Hempstead, NY | $87,259 | $45,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 27 | Portland, OR | $85,528 | $49,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 28 | Islip, NY | $87,145 | $45,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 29 | Oyster Bay, NY | $86,835 | $45,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 30 | Detroit, MI | $73,116 | $42,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 31 | Brookhaven, NY | $86,791 | $44,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 32 | Jersey City, NJ | $85,109 | $44,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 33 | Glendale, AZ | $73,005 | $43,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 34 | Phoenix, AZ | $72,968 | $43,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 35 | Seattle, WA | $80,236 | $46,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 36 | Scottsdale, AZ | $72,885 | $43,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 37 | Chandler, AZ | $72,761 | $43,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 38 | Mesa, AZ | $72,731 | $43,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 39 | Gilbert, AZ | $72,716 | $43,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 40 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,683 | $35,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 41 | Fort Worth, TX | $64,894 | $37,000 | 854,113 | 4 |
| 42 | Chicago, IL | $73,935 | $45,000 | 2,704,958 | 6 |
| 43 | Colorado Springs, CO | $74,406 | $46,000 | 465,101 | 4 |
| 44 | Boston, MA | $77,758 | $38,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 45 | Buffalo, NY | $81,825 | $44,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 46 | Columbus, OH | $63,319 | $36,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 47 | Aurora, CO | $73,668 | $46,000 | 361,710 | 2 |
| 48 | Cleveland, OH | $63,441 | $36,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 49 | Denver, CO | $73,644 | $46,000 | 693,060 | 11 |
| 50 | Milwaukee, WI | $66,561 | $41,000 | 595,047 | - |
Highest paying cities for medical surgical staff nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. medical surgical staff nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $117,356 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $87,106 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $85,031 |
| 4 | Tacoma, WA | $80,825 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $77,758 |
| 6 | Grand Junction, CO | $76,739 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $73,935 |
| 8 | Farmington, CT | $73,795 |
| 9 | York, PA | $67,090 |
| 10 | New Orleans, LA | $66,573 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $66,165 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $64,744 |
| 13 | Newark, OH | $63,516 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,010 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $59,092 |
| 16 | Clearwater, FL | $58,424 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $58,046 |
| 18 | Iowa City, IA | $52,931 |
Medical surgical staff nurse best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025