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RN Surgical Acute Salary in the United States

How much does a RN Surgical Acute make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a RN Surgical Acute in the United States is $105,488 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

However, a RN Surgical Acute's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $128,983
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $96,361 to $117,786
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $88,052
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence RN Surgical Acute Salaries

A RN Surgical Acute's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects RN Surgical Acute Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a RN Surgical Acute's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $101,618
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $102,292
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $105,488
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $110,552
  • Expert (over 8 years): $110,913
Levels Salary
Entry Level RN Surgical Acute$101,618
Intermediate Level RN Surgical Acute$102,292
Senior Level RN Surgical Acute$105,488
Specialist Level RN Surgical Acute$110,552
Expert Level RN Surgical Acute$110,913
View as Graph

How Do RN Surgical Acute Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract RN Surgical Acutes. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $116,796.
  • California: $116,353.
  • Massachusetts: $114,803.

Top Paying Cities for RN Surgical Acutes

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $133,052
  • San Francisco: $131,595
  • Oakland: $128,822

What Skills Can Increase a RN Surgical Acute's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 5.51% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Nursing Practice (Mentioned in 2.87% Job Postings): Nursing practice may be work experience that is direct and/or indirect patient care in clinical practice, nursing administration, education, research, or consultation in the specialty represented by the credential.
  • Patient Safety (Mentioned in 1.54% Job Postings): Patient safety is a discipline and responsibility that emphasizes safety in health care through the prevention, reduction, reporting, and analysis of medical error that often leads to adverse effects. The frequency and magnitude of avoidable adverse events experienced by patients was not well known until the 1990s, when multiple countries reported staggering numbers of patients harmed and killed by medical errors. Recognizing that healthcare errors impact 1 in every 10 patients around the world, the World Health Organization calls patient safety an endemic concern. Indeed, patient safety has emerged as a distinct healthcare discipline supported by an immature yet developing scientific framework. There is a significant transdisciplinary body of theoretical and research literature that informs the science of patient safety. At the same time, efforts are being made to anchor patient safety more firmly in medical education. The resulting patient safety knowledge continually informs improvement efforts such as: applying lessons learned from business and industry, adopting innovative technologies, educating providers and consumers, enhancing error reporting systems, and developing new economic incentives.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 5.51%
Nursing Practice 2.87%
Patient Safety 1.54%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a RN Surgical Acute's salary.

  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Confidentiality: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Written Communication $113,927
8%
Time Management $112,872
7%
Confidentiality $109,708
4%
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RN Surgical Acute Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For RN Surgical Acute roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, RN Surgical Acute positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view RN Surgical Acute as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a RN Surgical Acute

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$126,586$61.020%

How Education impacts a RN Surgical Acute's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many RN Surgical Acutes enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a RN Surgical Acute with a Associate's Degree is between $104,834 and $110,810).

RN Surgical Acute Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for RN Surgical Acute
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 8.9%
High School 8.9%
Associates 44.3%
Bachelors 40.5%
Masters 5.1%
Doctorate 1.3%
View as Graph

RN Surgical Acute Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a RN Surgical Acute's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$96,361
Average $105,488/year
$117,786
$8,030
Average $8,791/month
$9,816
$1,853
Average $2,029/week
$2,265
$46
Average $51/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $117,786 $9,816 $2,265 $57
Average $105,488 $8,791 $2,029 $51
25th Percentile $96,361 $8,030 $1,853 $46

Most common benefits for RN Surgical Acute

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for RN Surgical Acute

Here are companies hiring for RN Surgical Acute and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about RN Surgical Acute

1. What industry pays the highest salary for RN Surgical Acute?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for RN Surgical Acute roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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