Medical-Surgical nurse pay in California
$128,170median posted offer#1 of 36 states for Medical-Surgical
Medical-Surgical nurses in California are being offered a median $128,170 a year across 53 live postings that state pay — 27% above the national Medical-Surgical median of $100,910. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $102k
- 25th percentile
- $107k
- 75th percentile
- $150k
- 90th percentile
- $170k
Where does your pay sit in Medical-Surgical in California?
Checked against 53 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $102k
- 25th percentile
- $107k
- 75th percentile
- $150k
- 90th percentile
- $170k
Enter your pay to see your percentile.
Posted offers on live listings — not take-home pay or a promise of what any one nurse will earn.
Other specialties in California
- Nursing Administration 5 postings$230k
- Nursing Management 12 postings$220k
- Oncology Nursing 5 postings$215k
- Nursing Education 7 postings$214k
- Nursing Leadership 8 postings$206k
- Cardiovascular Surgery 6 postings$204k
- Cardiothoracic Surgery 9 postings$204k
- Family Medicine 5 postings$194k
Or see all nurse pay in California (5,353 postings), or Medical-Surgical pay across every state.
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee Medical-Surgical roles in CaliforniaEvery posting behind these numbers is a live job you can open and apply to.
- Offer in hand?Review an offerTurn it into a full-year number, see what it's worth where you'd live, and compare offers side by side.
- 3-minute PULSEFind the work that brings out your bestPay is one axis. Your pace, decision style, connection, scope, and energy rhythm shape the rest.
- CommunityAsk nurses what they really take homeDifferentials, ratios, and the offer nobody posts. Bring your number and compare notes.
Want the craft behind the numbers — differentials, negotiating, travel packages? Read the pay & salary guides.
Questions nurses ask
- How much do Medical-Surgical nurses make in California?
- Across 53 live Medical-Surgical postings in California that state pay, the median offer is $128,170 a year. The middle half runs $106,642–$150,342, and the top 10% start at $169,541.
- Is California a good state for Medical-Surgical nurses?
- On posted pay, California ranks #1 of 36 states for Medical-Surgical. The median there is 27% above the national Medical-Surgical median of $100,910. Pay is one axis — shift, ratios, and cost of living decide whether the job is worth it.