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Medical surgical staff nurse salary
Average medical surgical staff nurse salary
$67,649
Average Medical Surgical Staff Nurse Salary
The average salary for a Medical Surgical Staff Nurse is approximately $67,649 per year or about $33 per hour. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the work environment. For instance, nurses in metropolitan areas may earn higher wages compared to those in rural settings.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level nurses often start at a lower salary, around $60,000, while those with more experience can earn upwards of $80,000 annually. This progression highlights the importance of gaining experience and specialized skills in enhancing earning potential.
Highest Paying States and Cities
States like California and New York typically offer the highest salaries for medical surgical staff nurses, reflecting the cost of living and demand for healthcare professionals. Cities such as San Francisco, New York City, and Boston often present the best opportunities for higher wages. Understanding these regional differences can help nurses choose career paths that align with their financial goals.
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Where can a Medical Surgical Staff Nurse earn more?
Medical surgical staff nurse salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level medical surgical staff nurse | $53,600 | $25.79 |
| Mid-level medical surgical staff nurse | $67,500 | $32.44 |
| Senior-level medical surgical staff nurse | $92,500 | $44.49 |
Average medical surgical staff nurse salary by state
The highest-paying states for medical surgical staff nurses are California, Oregon, and New York. The lowest average medical surgical staff nurse salary states are Indiana, Iowa, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for medical surgical staff nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $81,244 | $39.06 |
| 2 | Washington | $80,089 | $38.50 |
| 3 | New York | $86,253 | $41.47 |
| 4 | California | $110,182 | $52.97 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $69,300 | $33.32 |
| 6 | Nevada | $76,902 | $36.97 |
| 7 | Oregon | $86,331 | $41.51 |
| 8 | Arizona | $72,777 | $34.99 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $67,104 | $32.26 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $85,169 | $40.95 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $78,141 | $37.57 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $62,662 | $30.13 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $75,113 | $36.11 |
| 14 | Colorado | $73,747 | $35.46 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $66,825 | $32.13 |
| 16 | Illinois | $73,814 | $35.49 |
| 17 | Michigan | $72,780 | $34.99 |
| 18 | Ohio | $63,225 | $30.40 |
| 19 | Texas | $64,755 | $31.13 |
| 20 | Virginia | $72,032 | $34.63 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $80,860 | $38.88 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $59,566 | $28.64 |
| 23 | Alaska | $64,896 | $31.20 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $66,313 | $31.88 |
| 25 | Maine | $59,754 | $28.73 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $68,810 | $33.08 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $81,759 | $39.31 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $62,203 | $29.91 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $59,286 | $28.50 |
| 30 | Maryland | $66,140 | $31.80 |
| 31 | Utah | $64,993 | $31.25 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $59,023 | $28.38 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $56,560 | $27.19 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $54,767 | $26.33 |
| 35 | Florida | $57,809 | $27.79 |
| 36 | Georgia | $59,784 | $28.74 |
| 37 | Alabama | $57,579 | $27.68 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $62,998 | $30.29 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $56,989 | $27.40 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $58,645 | $28.19 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $58,417 | $28.09 |
| 42 | Idaho | $58,517 | $28.13 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $55,175 | $26.53 |
| 44 | Missouri | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| 45 | Vermont | $44,794 | $21.54 |
| 46 | Montana | $51,627 | $24.82 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $50,070 | $24.07 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $54,828 | $26.36 |
| 49 | Indiana | $53,965 | $25.94 |
| 50 | Iowa | $52,859 | $25.41 |
| 51 | Kansas | $52,074 | $25.04 |
Highest paying cities for medical surgical staff nurses
The highest-paying cities for medical surgical staff nurses are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Newark, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $117,356 | $56.42 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $87,106 | $41.88 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $85,031 | $40.88 |
| 4 | Tacoma, WA | $80,825 | $38.86 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $77,758 | $37.38 |
| 6 | Grand Junction, CO | $76,739 | $36.89 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $73,935 | $35.55 |
| 8 | Farmington, CT | $73,795 | $35.48 |
| 9 | York, PA | $67,090 | $32.25 |
| 10 | New Orleans, LA | $66,573 | $32.01 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $66,165 | $31.81 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $64,744 | $31.13 |
| 13 | Newark, OH | $63,516 | $30.54 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,010 | $30.29 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $59,092 | $28.41 |
| 16 | Clearwater, FL | $58,424 | $28.09 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $58,046 | $27.91 |
| 18 | Iowa City, IA | $52,931 | $25.45 |
Medical surgical staff nurse salary details
A medical surgical staff nurse's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $115,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a medical surgical staff nurse's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $115,000 | $9,583 | $55 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| Average | $67,649 | $5,637 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
Highest paying medical surgical staff nurse jobs
The highest paying types of medical surgical staff nurses are telemetry registered nurse, registered nurse med/surg, and staff nurse for emergency department.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Extern | $37,156 | $3,096 | $17.86 | 569,180 |
| Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | $71,342 | $5,945 | $34.30 | 645,134 |
| Telemetry Registered Nurse | $91,416 | $7,618 | $43.95 | 637,560 |
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | $84,812 | $7,068 | $40.78 | 515,200 |
| Oncology Registered Nurse | $74,716 | $6,226 | $35.92 | 636,524 |
| Nurse | $57,564 | $4,797 | $27.67 | 696,124 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for medical surgical staff nurses, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Sophia Thomas
President, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
-Starting salaries for NPs are exceptional, and usually hover between $80,000-100,000, but that can vary significantly based on geographic location, work setting, and certification/specialty. Some salaries are higher.
-The bureau of labor statistics (BLS) offers an excellent breakdown of salaries by region and state as well: link
-(Note: some stats on the BLS website are reflective of the Mean or Average salary and others represent the Median or midpoint. AANP data are all reported in Median)
-As NPs advance in their careers, there is a clear and positive relationship between number of years' experience and salary growth.
Top companies hiring medical surgical staff nurses now:
Which companies pay medical surgical staff nurses the most?
Medical surgical staff nurse salaries at University of California, Berkeley and University of California are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average medical surgical staff nurse salary at companies like Tenet Healthcare and University Hospitals are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | $102,726 | $49.39 |
| 2 | University of California | $91,096 | $43.80 |
| 3 | Tenet Healthcare | $85,650 | $41.18 |
| 4 | University Hospitals | $83,690 | $40.24 |
| 5 | Sutter Health | $82,344 | $39.59 |
| 6 | UofL Hospital | $80,132 | $38.52 |
| 7 | The University of Chicago | $78,405 | $37.69 |
| 8 | NorthShore University HealthSystem | $77,505 | $37.26 |
| 9 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $76,771 | $36.91 |
| 10 | University of Maryland Medical System | $76,594 | $36.82 |
| 11 | MAS Medical Staffing | $75,991 | $36.53 |
| 12 | Medical City Arlington | $75,827 | $36.46 |
| 13 | Baystate Health | $75,273 | $36.19 |
| 14 | WakeMed | $73,694 | $35.43 |
| 15 | Erlanger Health System | $73,412 | $35.29 |
| 16 | Emanate Health | $73,207 | $35.20 |
| 17 | Brigham and Women's Hospital | $72,764 | $34.98 |
| 18 | Norman Regional Health System | $72,333 | $34.78 |
| 19 | Trident Medical Center | $71,581 | $34.41 |
| 20 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $71,384 | $34.32 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Medical surgical staff nurse salary trends
The average medical surgical staff nurse salary has risen by $9,470 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average medical surgical staff nurse earned $58,179 annually, but today, they earn $67,649 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for medical surgical staff nurses over the last decade.
Compare medical surgical staff nurse salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average medical surgical staff nurse salary over time
Compare medical surgical staff nurse salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Medical surgical staff nurse salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $67,600 | $32.52 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $65,800 | $31.65 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $64,400 | $30.97 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $62,900 | $30.22 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $61,500 | $29.55 | +1.4% |
Recently added medical surgical staff nurse salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Camino Hospital Mountain View | Clinical Nurse II-Days-Med Surg 1 @ LG | Los Gatos, CA | 06/30/2025 | $177,687 |
| Sutterhealth | Staff Nurse II, Medical Surgical Telemetry Orthopedics | San Francisco, CA | 06/30/2025 | $165,353 |
| University of Maryland Medical System | Nurse Graduate (RN), Med Surg | Largo, MD | 06/28/2025 | $75,654 |
| Emanate Health | Clinical Nurse Partner (CNA)-Med Surg--Days-QVH | West Covina, CA | 06/28/2025 | $43,827 |
| University of Illinois Medical Center | UI Health-Staff Nurse I-Nursing Resource Office-Med-Surg/Psych Flex Night Shift | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $71,709 |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | UI Health-Staff Nurse I-Nursing Resource Office-Med-Surg/Psych Flex Night Shift | Chicago, IL | 06/26/2025 | $71,709 |
| Sutter Valley Hospitals | Staff Nurse II, Med Surg | Vallejo, CA | 06/13/2025 | $151,349 |
| Saint Anthony Hospital | Staff Nurse/Med Surg | Chicago, IL | 06/12/2025 | $68,871 |
| University of Iowa | Staff Nurse-Med/Surg Cardiology Intermediate Care Unit (4RC | Iowa City, IA | 06/11/2025 | $60,000 |
| Ridgecrest Regional Hosptital | Clinical Nurse III Med Surg | Ridgecrest, CA | 06/04/2025 | $104,350 |
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