What to Pay a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Birmingham, AL (2026)
How to set your Med-Surg RN pay range in Birmingham
Three pay positions, modeled against current Birmingham market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
Med-Surg RN salary percentile distribution in Birmingham, AL
Where the Birmingham market actually sits for Med-Surg RN base pay.
Most Birmingham employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($77,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $67,000 and a max of $89,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Alabama pay transparency compliance for Med-Surg RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a Med-Surg RN in Alabama.
For a Med-Surg RN role in Birmingham, a compliant good-faith range looks like $67,000 to $89,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $67,000–$89,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top Med-Surg RN employers in Birmingham — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring Med-Surg RNs in the Birmingham metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAB Medicine | Academic medical center | $72K–$91K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Grandview Medical Center | Hospital (HCA) | $71K–$91K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Ascension St. Vincent's | Health system | $72K–$91K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Children's of Alabama (UAB) | Pediatric specialty | $72K–$91K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Brookwood Baptist Medical Center | Hospital | $69K–$88K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
Med-Surg RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Birmingham
How hard is it to fill a Med-Surg RN role in Birmingham.
Birmingham med-surg RN market is the largest RN specialty by headcount. High turnover ratio drives constant recruitment cycles.
Skill premiums Med-Surg RN candidates command in Birmingham, AL
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| CMSRN (Med-Surg certified) | +5–8% | Standard progression |
| Telemetry / step-down experience | +4–7% | High |
| Charge nurse experience | +5–8% | High |
| BSN (vs ADN) | +5–8% | Standard at Magnet hospitals |
Med-Surg RN total compensation in Birmingham — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for Med-Surg RNs in Birmingham. "Prevalence" reflects share of Birmingham disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Birmingham Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $77,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +12–20% premium | ~90% |
| Sign-on bonus | $6K–$14K | ~76% |
| CMSRN certification pay | +5–8% on base | ~48% |
| Overtime opportunity | $8K–$17K annualized | ~94% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$92K–$108K | — |
Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.
Med-Surg RN pay by setting in Birmingham — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the Med-Surg RN range splits by employer type in the Birmingham metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult med-surg (community) | $72,000 | $65K–$83K | Very high |
| Adult med-surg (academic) | $79,000 | $69K–$89K | Very high |
| Telemetry / step-down | $82,000 | $72K–$92K | Very high |
| Progressive care unit (PCU) | $83,000 | $74K–$94K | Very high |
| Ortho / surgical unit | $77,000 | $69K–$88K | High |
FAQ: hiring a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Birmingham, AL
Related Med-Surg RN pay benchmarks — Alabama metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
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