What to Pay a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Honolulu, HI (2026)
How to set your Med-Surg RN pay range in Honolulu
Three pay positions, modeled against current Honolulu market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
Med-Surg RN salary percentile distribution in Honolulu, HI
Where the Honolulu market actually sits for Med-Surg RN base pay.
Most Honolulu employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($118,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $103,000 and a max of $136,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Hawaii pay transparency compliance for Med-Surg RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a Med-Surg RN in Hawaii.
| Requirement | Applies When | Penalty for Non-Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Pay range in job postings | Employers with 50 or more employees must follow the law. | The law sets no specific fines. Violations go through the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission's complaint process, with the remedies available under Hawaii employment discrimination law. |
For a Med-Surg RN role in Honolulu, a compliant good-faith range looks like $103,000 to $136,000. Job listings must include an hourly rate or salary range that reasonably reflects the expected pay.
Top Med-Surg RN employers in Honolulu — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring Med-Surg RNs in the Honolulu metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Queen's Health Systems | Academic medical center system | $111K–$139K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Hawaii Pacific Health | Health system | $111K–$139K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Kaiser Permanente Hawaii | Integrated health system | $111K–$139K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Adventist Health Castle | Health system | $111K–$139K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Kapiolani Medical Center | Pediatric / women's specialty | $111K–$139K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
Med-Surg RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Honolulu
How hard is it to fill a Med-Surg RN role in Honolulu.
Honolulu 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 Honolulu, HI
| 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 Honolulu — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for Med-Surg RNs in Honolulu. "Prevalence" reflects share of Honolulu disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Honolulu Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $118,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +12–20% premium | ~90% |
| Sign-on bonus | $9K–$21K | ~76% |
| CMSRN certification pay | +5–8% on base | ~48% |
| Overtime opportunity | $13K–$26K annualized | ~94% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$142K–$165K | — |
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 Honolulu — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the Med-Surg RN range splits by employer type in the Honolulu metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult med-surg (community) | $111,000 | $99K–$127K | Very high |
| Adult med-surg (academic) | $120,000 | $106K–$137K | Very high |
| Telemetry / step-down | $125,000 | $111K–$142K | Very high |
| Progressive care unit (PCU) | $127,000 | $113K–$144K | Very high |
| Ortho / surgical unit | $118,000 | $106K–$135K | High |
FAQ: hiring a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Honolulu, HI
Related Med-Surg RN pay benchmarks — Hawaii metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
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