Best cities for a perioperative nurse
The best cities for perioperative nurses are Pittsburgh, PA, Los Angeles, CA, and Columbus, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for perioperative nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for perioperative nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a perioperative nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for perioperative nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for perioperative nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a perioperative nurse. While the absolute best city for perioperative nurses is Pittsburgh, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for perioperative nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a perioperative nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for perioperative nurses in 2025
1. Pittsburgh, PA
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $93,916 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 1.51 2. Los Angeles, CA
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $113,855 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 2.40 3. Columbus, OH
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $87,905 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 1.54 4. Philadelphia, PA
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $99,672 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000 Location quotient: 1.42 5. Cleveland, OH
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $88,794 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Toledo, OH
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $87,635 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. San Jose, CA
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $116,165 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. San Francisco, CA
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $116,046 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.46 9. Cincinnati, OH
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $86,904 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 1.06 10. Fremont, CA
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $115,973 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for perioperative nurses
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Columbus, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- Cleveland, OH
- Toledo, OH
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Fremont, CA
- (2 perioperative nurse jobs)
- (9 perioperative nurse jobs)
- (3 perioperative nurse jobs)
- (3 perioperative nurse jobs)
- (0 perioperative nurse jobs)
- (0 perioperative nurse jobs)
- (0 perioperative nurse jobs)
- (2 perioperative nurse jobs)
- (1 perioperative nurse jobs)
- (0 perioperative nurse jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a perioperative nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh, PA | $93,916 | $49,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $113,855 | $69,000 | 3,976,322 | 9 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $87,905 | $47,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $99,672 | $51,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $88,794 | $48,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $87,635 | $48,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $116,165 | $73,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $116,046 | $73,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | $86,904 | $46,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 10 | Fremont, CA | $115,973 | $73,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 11 | Oakland, CA | $115,884 | $73,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $82,992 | $46,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 13 | Stockton, CA | $114,856 | $73,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 14 | Sacramento, CA | $113,998 | $73,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | $111,126 | $67,000 | 1,406,630 | 5 |
| 16 | Bakersfield, CA | $115,267 | $71,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 17 | Seattle, WA | $91,702 | $65,000 | 704,352 | 9 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $88,849 | $47,000 | 673,184 | 14 |
| 19 | Fresno, CA | $115,086 | $72,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 20 | Long Beach, CA | $113,327 | $69,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 21 | Newark, NJ | $94,074 | $49,000 | 281,764 | 1 |
| 22 | Anaheim, CA | $113,198 | $69,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $91,677 | $57,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 24 | Santa Ana, CA | $113,016 | $69,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 25 | Henderson, NV | $91,635 | $56,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 26 | Riverside, CA | $112,897 | $69,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 27 | North Las Vegas, NV | $91,523 | $57,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 28 | Irvine, CA | $112,829 | $69,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 29 | Durham, NC | $72,402 | $35,000 | 263,016 | 5 |
| 30 | Portland, OR | $88,502 | $61,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 31 | Milwaukee, WI | $82,667 | $48,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 32 | Washington, DC | $110,480 | $56,000 | 681,170 | 2 |
| 33 | Baltimore, MD | $92,970 | $47,000 | 614,664 | 4 |
| 34 | Reno, NV | $90,891 | $58,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 35 | Raleigh, NC | $72,398 | $35,000 | 458,880 | 5 |
| 36 | Chula Vista, CA | $110,903 | $67,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 37 | Madison, WI | $82,345 | $49,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 38 | Anchorage, AK | $93,033 | $81,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 39 | Jersey City, NJ | $94,162 | $49,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 40 | Islip, NY | $92,573 | $48,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 41 | Brookhaven, NY | $92,561 | $48,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 42 | Hempstead, NY | $92,414 | $48,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 43 | New York, NY | $92,197 | $48,000 | 8,537,673 | 8 |
| 44 | Lexington, KY | $77,886 | $40,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 45 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $69,920 | $35,000 | 260,999 | 3 |
| 46 | Oyster Bay, NY | $92,339 | $48,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 47 | Aurora, CO | $75,545 | $49,000 | 361,710 | 6 |
| 48 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,439 | $45,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $81,069 | $40,000 | 472,522 | 3 |
| 50 | Louisville, KY | $77,359 | $41,000 | 597,337 | - |
Highest paying cities for perioperative nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. perioperative nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Maria, CA | $116,438 |
| 2 | Wilmington, DE | $96,688 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $94,162 |
| 4 | Annapolis, MD | $92,901 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $92,197 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $91,702 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $88,849 |
| 8 | Kenner, LA | $77,104 |
| 9 | Peoria, AZ | $75,635 |
| 10 | Lakewood, CO | $75,579 |
| 11 | Manchester, NH | $74,471 |
| 12 | Knoxville, TN | $74,076 |
| 13 | Kansas City, KS | $73,331 |
| 14 | Jacksonville, NC | $72,389 |
| 15 | Miami, FL | $72,151 |
| 16 | Chesapeake, VA | $70,075 |
| 17 | Sioux Falls, SD | $67,805 |
| 18 | Las Cruces, NM | $66,699 |
| 19 | Fargo, ND | $63,814 |
| 20 | Dallas, TX | $63,781 |











