Surgical RN Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Surgical RN in the United States is $105,829 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $128,942
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $96,642 to $117,927
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $88,278
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View as table View as graph 25% $96,642 10% $88,278 90% $128,942 75% $117,927 $105,829 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Surgical RN Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $117,927 $9,827 $2,268 $57
Average $105,829 $8,819 $2,035 $51
25th Percentile $96,642 $8,054 $1,859 $46
Check out Surgical RN Job Openings in the United States
Staff RN

OhioHealth - New Rome, OH

Staff RN

OhioHealth - Riverlea, OH

Staff RN

OhioHealth - Riverlea, OH

Staff RN

OhioHealth - Riverlea, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Surgical RN Salaries

A Surgical RN'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 Surgical RN Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Surgical RN'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): $101,947
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $102,627
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $105,829
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $110,811
  • Expert (over 8 years): $111,166
Levels Salary
Entry Level Surgical RN$101,947
Intermediate Level Surgical RN$102,627
Senior Level Surgical RN$105,829
Specialist Level Surgical RN$110,811
Expert Level Surgical RN$111,166
$101,947 0 yr
$102,627 < 2 yrs
$105,829 2-4 yrs
$110,811 5-8 yrs
$111,166 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Surgical RNs

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: $133,482
  • San Francisco: $132,021
  • Oakland: $129,238

What Skills Can Increase a Surgical RN'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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 5.51%
Nursing Practice 2.87%
Patient Safety 1.54%
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 Surgical RN'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
$114,295
8%
Time Management
$113,237
7%
Confidentiality
$110,062
4%
Problem Solving
$110,062
4%
Accountability
$107,946
2%
Innovation
$107,946
2%
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Surgical RN Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Surgical RN 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, Surgical RN positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Surgical RN as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Surgical RN

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$126,995$61.020%

How Education impacts a Surgical RN's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Surgical RNs 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 Surgical RN with a Associate's Degree is between $104,834 and $110,810).

Surgical RN Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Surgical RN
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%
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Surgical RN Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Surgical RN'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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Surgical RN

Salaries for a Surgical RN can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $209,482 in 2023 to around $203,749 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Surgical RN salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Surgical RN Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$209,482
2024
$211,732
2025
$203,749
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $209,482
2024 $211,732
2025 $203,749
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Surgical RN

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Surgical RN

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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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