Medical Surgical Nurse Salary Guide: California
Average Medical Surgical Nurse Salary
$68.19/hour
The average salary for a Medical Surgical Nurse in California is $68.19 per hour. This is 36% higher than the US average of $43.83.
Last updated on November 14, 2026. Based on active jobs on Vivian.com.
Medical Surgical Nurse salaries in California compared to National Averages
$68.19/hour
California
36% higher than the US average.
$43.83/hour
United States
What cities in California pay the most for Med Surg Nurses?
Los Gatos, California, Mountain View, California, and Palo Alto, California pay Medical Surgical Nurses the most, along with 1 other, all averaging $68 per hour. Los Gatos, California also has the highest ceiling, with max hourly pay reaching $95. For comparison, the California average for Medical Surgical Nurses is $68 per hour — Los Gatos, California, Mountain View, California, and Palo Alto, California pay 1% less.
| City | Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Gatos, California | $68 | $95 |
| Mountain View, California | $68 | $95 |
| Palo Alto, California | $68 | $95 |
| Santa Clara, California | $68 | $95 |
How does the pay for Med Surg Nurses in California compare to nearby states?
New Mexico pays Medical Surgical Nurses the most, averaging $66 per hour, followed by Oregon ($61) and Colorado ($56). New Mexico also has the highest ceiling, with max hourly pay reaching $72. For comparison, the California average for Medical Surgical Nurses is $68 per hour — New Mexico pays 3% less.
| Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $66 | $72 |
| Oregon | $61 | $67 |
| Colorado | $56 | $63 |
| Nevada | $53 | $65 |
| Texas | $50 | $61 |
| Idaho | $50 | $50 |
| Arizona | $47 | $53 |
| Utah | $44 | $50 |
What are the highest paying Employers and Agencies for Medical Surgical Nurse jobs in California?
Adventist Health pays Medical Surgical Nurses the most, averaging $62 per hour, followed by Tenet Desert ($58) and Community Medical Centers ($57). Tenet Desert has the highest ceiling, with max hourly pay reaching $75. For comparison, the California average for Medical Surgical Nurses is $68 per hour — Adventist Health pays 8% less.
| Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|
| Adventist Health | $62 | $62 |
| Tenet Desert | $58 | $75 |
| Community Medical Centers | $57 | $58 |
| Perm Staff Jobs | $47 | $47 |
Last updated on November 14, 2026. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com and pay data from BLS and around the web.
Medical Surgical Nurse Career Guide
Use our exclusive Career Guides to research the education, qualifications, skills and responsibilities for a variety of healthcare disciplines and specialties employers are hiring now.
Go to the guideTop Medical Surgical Nurse Jobs
Charge Nurse (RN) - Med Surg
- Desert Regional Medical Center
- Palm Springs, CA
$51-82/hour
Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg
- Hi-Desert Medical Center
- Joshua Tree, CA
- Sign-On Bonus
$48-72/hour
Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg
- Community Regional Medical Center
- Fresno, CA
- 3x12 hrs, Nights
$48-67/hour
Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg
- Community Regional Medical Center
- Fresno, CA
- 3x12 hrs, Nights
$48-67/hour
Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg
- Desert Regional Medical Center
- Palm Springs, CA
$25-29/hour
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