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Best states for a medical surgical staff nurse
Quoted expert
Vilma Davis
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for medical surgical staff nurses? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for medical surgical staff nurse jobs.Our research shows that Delaware is the best state in the country for medical surgical staff nurses.
The median salary for medical surgical staff nurses in Delaware is $81,244. Compare that to the median salary in Kansas of $52,074, which ranked worst for medical surgical staff nurses, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a medical surgical staff nurse, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for medical surgical staff nurses in 2025
1. Delaware
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 826 Average annual salary: $81,244 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
2. Washington
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 4,484 Average annual salary: $80,089 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
3. New York
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 7,446 Average annual salary: $86,253 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
4. California
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 13,229 Average annual salary: $110,182 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
5. Wyoming
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 434 Average annual salary: $69,300 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
6. Nevada
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 1,154 Average annual salary: $76,902 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
7. Oregon
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 1,808 Average annual salary: $86,331 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
8. Arizona
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 3,444 Average annual salary: $72,777 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
9. Pennsylvania
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 7,524 Average annual salary: $67,104 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
10. New Jersey
Total medical surgical staff nurse jobs: 2,953 Average annual salary: $85,169 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
Medical surgical staff nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a medical surgical staff nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a medical surgical staff nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $81,244 | $44,000 | 961,939 | 826 |
| 2 | Washington | $80,089 | $47,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,484 |
| 3 | New York | $86,253 | $46,000 | 19,849,399 | 7,446 |
| 4 | California | $110,182 | $66,000 | 39,536,653 | 13,229 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $69,300 | $43,000 | 579,315 | 434 |
| 6 | Nevada | $76,902 | $45,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,154 |
| 7 | Oregon | $86,331 | $50,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,808 |
| 8 | Arizona | $72,777 | $43,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,444 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $67,104 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 7,524 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $85,169 | $46,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,953 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $78,141 | $40,000 | 6,859,819 | 4,762 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $62,662 | $36,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,030 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $75,113 | $39,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,936 |
| 14 | Colorado | $73,747 | $46,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,359 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $66,825 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 1,935 |
| 16 | Illinois | $73,814 | $45,000 | 12,802,023 | 5,956 |
| 17 | Michigan | $72,780 | $42,000 | 9,962,311 | 3,317 |
| 18 | Ohio | $63,225 | $36,000 | 11,658,609 | 6,052 |
| 19 | Texas | $64,755 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 11,921 |
| 20 | Virginia | $72,032 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,962 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $80,860 | $44,000 | 693,972 | 727 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $59,566 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,932 |
| 23 | Alaska | $64,896 | $55,000 | 739,795 | 529 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $66,313 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 2,703 |
| 25 | Maine | $59,754 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 887 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $68,810 | $35,000 | 1,059,639 | 464 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $81,759 | $67,000 | 1,427,538 | 348 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $62,203 | $37,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,593 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $59,286 | $36,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,212 |
| 30 | Maryland | $66,140 | $36,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,488 |
| 31 | Utah | $64,993 | $39,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,223 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $59,023 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,159 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $56,560 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 3,790 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $54,767 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 663 |
| 35 | Florida | $57,809 | $32,000 | 20,984,400 | 14,331 |
| 36 | Georgia | $59,784 | $34,000 | 10,429,379 | 5,823 |
| 37 | Alabama | $57,579 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,443 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $62,998 | $41,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,951 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $56,989 | $32,000 | 5,024,369 | 2,639 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $58,645 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 5,249 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $58,417 | $33,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,092 |
| 42 | Idaho | $58,517 | $34,000 | 1,716,943 | 909 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $55,175 | $27,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,059 |
| 44 | Missouri | $58,100 | $35,000 | 6,113,532 | 3,092 |
| 45 | Vermont | $44,794 | $22,000 | 623,657 | 604 |
| 46 | Montana | $51,627 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 728 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $50,070 | $32,000 | 869,666 | 672 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $54,828 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,142 |
| 49 | Indiana | $53,965 | $32,000 | 6,666,818 | 3,234 |
| 50 | Iowa | $52,859 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,686 |
| 51 | Kansas | $52,074 | $32,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,298 |
Highest paying states for medical surgical staff nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Medical Surgical Staff Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $81,244 |
| 2 | Washington | $80,089 |
| 3 | New York | $86,253 |
| 4 | California | $110,182 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $69,300 |
| 6 | Nevada | $76,902 |
| 7 | Oregon | $86,331 |
| 8 | Arizona | $72,777 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $67,104 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $85,169 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $78,141 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $62,662 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $75,113 |
| 14 | Colorado | $73,747 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $66,825 |
| 16 | Illinois | $73,814 |
| 17 | Michigan | $72,780 |
| 18 | Ohio | $63,225 |
| 19 | Texas | $64,755 |
| 20 | Virginia | $72,032 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $80,860 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $59,566 |
| 23 | Alaska | $64,896 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $66,313 |
| 25 | Maine | $59,754 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $68,810 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $81,759 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $62,203 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $59,286 |
| 30 | Maryland | $66,140 |
| 31 | Utah | $64,993 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $59,023 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $56,560 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $54,767 |
| 35 | Florida | $57,809 |
| 36 | Georgia | $59,784 |
| 37 | Alabama | $57,579 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $62,998 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $56,989 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $58,645 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $58,417 |
| 42 | Idaho | $58,517 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $55,175 |
| 44 | Missouri | $58,100 |
| 45 | Vermont | $44,794 |
| 46 | Montana | $51,627 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $50,070 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $54,828 |
| 49 | Indiana | $53,965 |
| 50 | Iowa | $52,859 |
| 51 | Kansas | $52,074 |
Expert opinions on the best states for medical surgical staff nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for medical surgical staff nurses to find work opportunities?
Vilma Davis
Assistant Director and Assistant Professor, Lincoln University
As previously mentioned, there is a need for nurses throughout the United States. Most nursing programs will intermittently have nurse recruiters come on campus, giving students an opportunity to ask questions and get information about the job market. This is one way that graduates can get plugged into where the needs of nurses are. Graduates can also visit the websites of various hospitals and see what openings are available for which they can apply. Doing a simple google search for "nursing jobs" will yield a plethora of available jobs that they can review and make the decision which they would like to pursue.
Medical surgical staff nurse best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025