Real pay data from 12,472 job postings across 94 states. See how Med-Surg Nurse pay varies by location, shift, and employer.
Pay analysis
Based on 12,472 postings
Median hourly pay
$56.11
per hour$116,709 / year
216
companies hiring
916
cities with openings
From entry-level to top earners, see where different pay rates fall.
10th Percentile
Lower-paying roles
$41.75
$86,840/yr
25th Percentile
Early career
$48.78
$101,462/yr
Median
Typical pay
$56.11
$116,709/yr
75th Percentile
Experienced
$62.86
$130,749/yr
90th Percentile
Top earners
$68.61
$142,709/yr
BY LOCATION
See how pay varies across the country. Ranked by job volume.
| State | Postings | Median Hourly | Pay Range | Companies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ILIllinois | 875 | $61.67 | $58 - $65 | 82 |
GAGeorgia | 720 | $47.03 | $44 - $50 | 72 |
NYNew York | 686 | $61.75 | $58 - $66 | 91 |
VAVirginia | 618 | $53.25 | $50 - $56 | 74 |
WIWisconsin | 582 | $62.23 | $59 - $65 | 78 |
NHNew Hampshire | 571 | $63.69 | $57 - $68 | 88 |
TNTennessee | 569 | $50.11 | $47 - $56 | 79 |
IAIowa | 497 | $59.42 | $55 - $63 | 80 |
ALAlabama | 466 | $52.56 | $48 - $59 | 57 |
TXTexas | 422 | $42.42 | $37 - $47 | 75 |
NCNorth Carolina | 412 | $51.61 | $49 - $55 | 72 |
CACalifornia | 356 | $59.92 | $56 - $73 | 65 |
INIndiana | 349 | $56.94 | $51 - $60 | 66 |
NDNorth Dakota | 347 | $64.89 | $58 - $68 | 54 |
AZArizona | 342 | $56.58 | $53 - $60 | 67 |
BY CITY
BY EMPLOYER
See which employers pay the most and least for Med-Surg Nurse positions.
Lifepoint
5 postings
$129.62/hr
$61 - $130/hr
Sanford Health - Solutions By Sanford
24 postings
$79.61/hr
$75 - $84/hr
Integrated Healthcare Services
9 postings
$79.22/hr
$72 - $116/hr
United Staffing Solutions
7 postings
$74.61/hr
$56 - $85/hr
Adn Healthcare
18 postings
$74.11/hr
$51 - $88/hr
HCA South Atlantic Division
7 postings
$27.88/hr
$28 - $31/hr
Tenet Memphis
8 postings
$28.00/hr
$28 - $34/hr
Tenet South Carolina
25 postings
$29.00/hr
$29 - $29/hr
HCA Florida Healthcare
96 postings
$30.76/hr
$26 - $35/hr
HCA Methodist Healthcare Of San Antonio
25 postings
$31.31/hr
$31 - $36/hr
RELATED POSITIONS
| Job Title | Postings | Median | Range | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse RN - Med-Surg | 9,227 | $56.33/hr | $49 - $63 | $117,166 |
| Med-surg RN | 312 | $54.18/hr | $48 - $59 | $112,694 |
| Med-surg Telemetry RN | 191 | $58.53/hr | $55 - $62 | $121,742 |
| Local Contract Nurse RN - Med-Surg | 185 | $46.00/hr | $42 - $52 | $95,680 |
| Med-Surg RN | 126 | $56.83/hr | $47 - $67 | $118,206 |
| Emergency & Med-surg Registered Nurse | 79 | $58.81/hr | $56 - $74 | $122,325 |
| Med-surg Adult Registered Nurse | 69 | $50.19/hr | $47 - $54 | $104,395 |
| Med-surg Registered Nurse | 68 | $47.61/hr | $45 - $50 | $99,029 |
| Med-surg Orthopedic Post-op RN | 65 | $58.22/hr | $54 - $63 | $121,098 |
| Med-surg RN (stroke & Neuro) | 61 | $53.39/hr | $51 - $55 | $111,051 |
EDUCATION & LICENSING
Understand the education, licensing, and certification requirements needed to pursue a nursing career.
ADN
Associate Degree in Nursing
BSN
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
MSN
Master of Science in Nursing
DNP
Doctor of Nursing Practice
LPN/LVN
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse
RN
Registered Nurse
APRN
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
NP
Nurse Practitioner
Complete an accredited nursing program
ADN, BSN, or direct-entry MSN
Pass the NCLEX examination
NCLEX-PN for LPNs, NCLEX-RN for RNs
Apply for state licensure
Each state has its own board of nursing
Obtain specialty certifications
CCRN, CEN, OCN, or other specialty certs
Certifications demonstrate expertise and can significantly increase earning potential
PAY FACTORS
MARKET TRENDS
Current Month (Jan 2026)
$66.22
Median Hourly
446
Job Postings
84
Companies Hiring
117
Cities
Aug 2025
$51.00/hr
196 postings • 51 companies
Sep 2025
$53.58/hr
987 postings • 103 companies
Oct 2025
$54.53/hr
9,213 postings • 184 companies
Nov 2025
$63.77/hr
1,027 postings • 104 companies
Dec 2025
$65.83/hr
577 postings • 91 companies
Jan 2026
$66.22/hr
446 postings • 84 companies
FAQ
The median Med-Surg Nurse salary is $56.11 per hour, or $116,709 annually. Pay ranges from $41.75/hr (10th percentile) to $68.61/hr (90th percentile) depending on location, experience, and employer.
Based on 12,472 job postings, the highest paying states for Med-Surg Nurses include Illinois, Georgia, New York. California typically offers the highest rates due to cost of living and demand.
There are currently 12,472 Med-Surg Nurse job postings across 94 states, from 216 different healthcare employers.
Med-Surg Nurse pay varies based on geographic location, years of experience, certifications, shift differentials (nights/weekends), employment type (travel vs. staff), facility type, and specialized skills. Travel contracts typically pay higher hourly rates.
ClinicalRate tracks pay and bill rates across 12,472 Med-Surg Nurse postings and hundreds of other clinical roles, refreshed daily.