Best cities for a surgical nurse
The best cities for surgical nurses are Riverside, CA, Irvine, CA, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for surgical nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for surgical nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a surgical nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for surgical nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for surgical nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a surgical nurse. While the absolute best city for surgical nurses is Riverside, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for surgical nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a surgical nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for surgical nurses in 2025
1. Riverside, CA
Total surgical nurse jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $103,648 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 13.05 2. Irvine, CA
Total surgical nurse jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $103,878 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Location quotient: 4.51 3. Las Vegas, NV
Total surgical nurse jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $75,291 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location quotient: 12.38 4. Chandler, AZ
Total surgical nurse jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $71,247 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 6.21 5. Gilbert, AZ
Total surgical nurse jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $71,222 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 11.89 6. Fresno, CA
Total surgical nurse jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $104,803 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 0.73 7. Los Angeles, CA
Total surgical nurse jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $104,448 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 0.72 8. Phoenix, AZ
Total surgical nurse jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $71,312 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 1.32 9. Tucson, AZ
Total surgical nurse jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $71,065 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 1.45 10. Arlington, TX
Total surgical nurse jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $65,624 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location quotient: 3.42
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Best cities for surgical nurses
- Riverside, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Chandler, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
- Fresno, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
- Arlington, TX
- (19 surgical nurse jobs)
- (30 surgical nurse jobs)
- (71 surgical nurse jobs)
- (15 surgical nurse jobs)
- (7 surgical nurse jobs)
- (1 surgical nurse jobs)
- (15 surgical nurse jobs)
- (20 surgical nurse jobs)
- (4 surgical nurse jobs)
- (4 surgical nurse jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a surgical nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside, CA | $103,648 | $66,000 | 324,722 | 19 |
| 2 | Irvine, CA | $103,878 | $66,000 | 266,122 | 30 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,291 | $48,000 | 632,912 | 71 |
| 4 | Chandler, AZ | $71,247 | $45,000 | 247,477 | 15 |
| 5 | Gilbert, AZ | $71,222 | $45,000 | 237,133 | 7 |
| 6 | Fresno, CA | $104,803 | $67,000 | 522,053 | 1 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $104,448 | $66,000 | 3,976,322 | 15 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $71,312 | $45,000 | 1,615,017 | 20 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $71,065 | $45,000 | 530,706 | 4 |
| 10 | Arlington, TX | $65,624 | $40,000 | 392,772 | 4 |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $68,607 | $43,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 12 | Fort Worth, TX | $65,680 | $40,000 | 854,113 | 7 |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $67,002 | $40,000 | 2,303,482 | 38 |
| 14 | Mesa, AZ | $71,215 | $45,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $77,677 | $53,000 | 639,863 | 7 |
| 16 | Nashville, TN | $58,749 | $34,000 | 660,388 | 15 |
| 17 | San Francisco, CA | $106,005 | $67,000 | 870,887 | 5 |
| 18 | San Jose, CA | $106,056 | $67,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 19 | Wichita, KS | $61,282 | $39,000 | 389,902 | 6 |
| 20 | New Orleans, LA | $60,906 | $35,000 | 391,495 | 8 |
| 21 | Fremont, CA | $105,921 | $67,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $75,325 | $48,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 23 | Oakland, CA | $105,869 | $67,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 24 | Stockton, CA | $104,980 | $67,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 25 | Oklahoma City, OK | $63,932 | $40,000 | 638,367 | 4 |
| 26 | Tulsa, OK | $62,974 | $40,000 | 403,090 | 3 |
| 27 | Bakersfield, CA | $104,887 | $67,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 28 | Albuquerque, NM | $67,128 | $43,000 | 559,277 | 3 |
| 29 | Sacramento, CA | $104,353 | $66,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 30 | Long Beach, CA | $104,216 | $66,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 31 | Anaheim, CA | $104,031 | $66,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 32 | Santa Ana, CA | $103,973 | $66,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 33 | San Diego, CA | $103,007 | $65,000 | 1,406,630 | 5 |
| 34 | Irving, TX | $65,486 | $40,000 | 238,289 | 6 |
| 35 | Austin, TX | $67,329 | $40,000 | 947,890 | 7 |
| 36 | Omaha, NE | $56,633 | $37,000 | 446,970 | 20 |
| 37 | Aurora, CO | $67,421 | $45,000 | 361,710 | 4 |
| 38 | Seattle, WA | $75,582 | $53,000 | 704,352 | 12 |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $68,101 | $45,000 | 465,101 | 5 |
| 40 | Glendale, AZ | $71,341 | $45,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 41 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $109,946 | $79,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 42 | Chula Vista, CA | $102,855 | $65,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 43 | Henderson, NV | $75,296 | $48,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 44 | Dallas, TX | $65,478 | $40,000 | 1,317,929 | 8 |
| 45 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $62,005 | $34,000 | 260,999 | 2 |
| 46 | Scottsdale, AZ | $71,239 | $45,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 47 | North Las Vegas, NV | $75,171 | $48,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 48 | Toledo, OH | $48,714 | $24,000 | 278,508 | 4 |
| 49 | Corpus Christi, TX | $68,393 | $40,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 50 | Norfolk, VA | $51,979 | $24,000 | 245,115 | 9 |
Highest paying cities for surgical nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. surgical nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thousand Oaks, CA | $104,813 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $77,677 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $75,582 |
| 4 | Henderson, NV | $75,296 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $71,312 |
| 6 | Englewood, CO | $67,521 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $67,002 |
| 8 | Idaho Falls, ID | $64,671 |
| 9 | New Orleans, LA | $60,906 |
| 10 | Little Rock, AR | $59,956 |
| 11 | Kansas City, KS | $59,709 |
| 12 | Grand Island, NE | $57,209 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $56,595 |
| 14 | Fuquay-Varina, NC | $55,887 |
| 15 | Council Bluffs, IA | $53,315 |
| 16 | Silver Spring, MD | $43,644 |
| 17 | New York, NY | $40,541 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $33,502 |
| 19 | Portland, ME | $26,992 |
Surgical nurse best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025