Medical Surgical Nurse Salary Guide: San Diego, CA
Average Medical Surgical Nurse Salary
$50.42/hour
The average salary for a Medical Surgical Nurse in San Diego, CA is $50.42 per hour. This is 43% lower than the California average of $72.24.
Estimate based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Medical Surgical Nurse salaries in San Diego, CA compared to State and National Averages
$50.42/hour
San Diego, CA
10% higher than the US average.
$72.24/hour
California
37% higher than the US average.
$45.40/hour
United States
How Medical Surgical Nurse Salaries in San Diego Compare to Other Cities
How Medical Surgical Nurse Salaries in San Diego Compare to Other Cities
Phoenix, Arizona
$50/hour
This is 1% lower than the San Diego average of $50.42.
Tucson, Arizona
$47/hour
This is 7% lower than the San Diego average of $50.42.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
$42/hour
This is 19% lower than the San Diego average of $50.42.
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, all averaging $68 per hour. Los Gatos, California also has the highest ceiling, with max hourly pay reaching $95. For comparison, the San Diego, CA average for Registered Nurses is $50 per hour — Los Gatos, California, Mountain View, California, and Palo Alto, California pay 34% more.
| City | Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Gatos, California | $68 | $95 |
| Mountain View, California | $68 | $95 |
| Palo Alto, California | $68 | $95 |
Last updated on November 5, 2026. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com and pay data from BLS and around the web.
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