What to Pay a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Minneapolis, MN (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings

Market Median

$102,000

base, annual

Competitive Range

$89K–$117K

25th–75th percentile

YoY Movement

+3.7%

trailing 12 months

Days to Fill

~28

Minneapolis metro average

To hire a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Minneapolis at market, plan on a base salary range of $89,000 to $117,000, with $102,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 28 days, expect to lead at $117K–$135K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. Minnesota requires a pay range in job postings.

How to set your Med-Surg RN pay range in Minneapolis

Three pay positions, modeled against current Minneapolis market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market

Pay Below Median

$78K–$89K

Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Minneapolis average.

Match Market — recommended

Pay at Median

$96.8K–$108K

Default for most Minneapolis employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~28 days. A range width of ~30% (min $89,000 to max $117,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a Med-Surg RN's typical 8–12 year tenure.

Lead Market

Pay Above Median

$111K–$135K

Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

Med-Surg RN salary percentile distribution in Minneapolis, MN

Where the Minneapolis market actually sits for Med-Surg RN base pay.

10th $78K

25th $89K

Median $102K

75th $117K

90th $135K

Most Minneapolis employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($102,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $89,000 and a max of $117,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

Minnesota pay transparency compliance for Med-Surg RN job postings

What you must post when hiring a Med-Surg RN in Minnesota.

Required. Minnesota requires employers with 30 or more employees at one or more Minnesota sites to include a good faith salary range or fixed pay rate, plus a general description of benefits and other compensation, in job postings, effective January 1, 2025. Open-ended ranges are not allowed. The Minnesota Attorney General can enforce the law and seek civil penalties of up to $25,000, although the law itself does not set specific penalties.

Requirement	Applies When	Penalty for Non-Compliance
Pay range in job postings	Employers with 30 or more employees at one or more sites in Minnesota must follow the law.	Section 181.173 does not set its own penalties, but the Attorney General can seek injunctive relief and civil penalties of up to $25,000 under Minn. Stat. § 8.31.
General description of benefits in postings	All covered postings	Same as above

For a Med-Surg RN role in Minneapolis, a compliant good-faith range looks like $89,000 to $117,000. Job ads must include a good faith salary range with a minimum and a maximum, or a fixed pay rate if no range is offered, plus a general description of all benefits and other compensation. Open-ended ranges are not allowed.

Top Med-Surg RN employers in Minneapolis — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring Med-Surg RNs in the Minneapolis metro and what they're posting.

Employer	Type	Disclosed Range	Sign-on Bonus
M Health Fairview	Academic medical center	$96K–$120K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
HealthPartners	Health system	$96K–$120K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
Allina Health	Health system	$96K–$120K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
Mayo Clinic	Specialty academic	$96K–$120K	Very common ($10K–$18K)
Children's Minnesota	Pediatric specialty	$96K–$120K	Very common ($10K–$18K)

Med-Surg RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Minneapolis

How hard is it to fill a Med-Surg RN role in Minneapolis.

~28

Avg Days to Fill

~3,060

Active Postings

~30,600

Minneapolis Med-Surg RN Workforce

Tight

Supply : Demand

Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis, MN

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 Minneapolis — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for Med-Surg RNs in Minneapolis. "Prevalence" reflects share of Minneapolis disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component	Typical Value	Prevalence in Minneapolis Postings
Base salary	$102,000 (median)	100%
Shift differential	+12–20% premium	~90%
Sign-on bonus	$8K–$18K	~76%
CMSRN certification pay	+5–8% on base	~48%
Overtime opportunity	$11K–$22K annualized	~94%
Estimated total comp benchmark	~$122K–$143K	—

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 Minneapolis — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the Med-Surg RN range splits by employer type in the Minneapolis metro.

Setting	Median	Competitive Range	Hiring Difficulty
Adult med-surg (community)	$96,000	$86K–$110K	Very high
Adult med-surg (academic)	$104,000	$92K–$118K	Very high
Telemetry / step-down	$108,000	$96K–$122K	Very high
Progressive care unit (PCU)	$110,000	$98K–$124K	Very high
Ortho / surgical unit	$102,000	$92K–$116K	High

FAQ: hiring a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Minneapolis, MN

How much should I pay a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Minneapolis, MN?

Market median is $102,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $102,000 — typically $89,000 to $117,000. To lead the market, plan on $117K–$135K base plus a sign-on bonus.

What pay range must I post for a Med-Surg RN job in Minnesota?

Minnesota requires employers with 30 or more employees at one or more Minnesota sites to include a good faith salary range or fixed pay rate, plus a general description of benefits and other compensation, in job postings, effective January 1, 2025. Open-ended ranges are not allowed. The Minnesota Attorney General can enforce the law and seek civil penalties of up to $25,000, although the law itself does not set specific penalties. For this role in Minneapolis, a good-faith range is $89,000–$117,000.

Is offering $91,000 competitive for a Med-Surg RN in Minneapolis?

$91,000 falls below the Minneapolis market median of $102,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.

What sign-on bonuses are typical for Med-Surg RNs in Minneapolis?

Roughly 76% of Minneapolis med-surg RN postings include a sign-on bonus ($8K–$18K). Highest values at large hospital systems for tele/step-down roles.

How long does it take to fill a Med-Surg RN role in Minneapolis?

Average fill time is approximately 28 days in the Minneapolis metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($117K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($89K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.

Which employers are we competing against for Med-Surg RN talent in Minneapolis?

By Minneapolis-metro posting volume: M Health Fairview, HealthPartners, Allina Health, Mayo Clinic, Children's Minnesota lead the pack.

How wide should my pay range be for a Med-Surg RN in Minneapolis?

A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for Med-Surg RN in Minneapolis — for example, $89,000 to $117,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months.

Does Minnesota require Med-Surg RN pay range disclosure for internal postings?

Any posting meant to recruit applicants for a specific open position is covered, whether the employer posts it directly or through a third party, online or in print. The law does not say whether internal-only postings are covered.

Related Med-Surg RN pay benchmarks — Minnesota metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros

Med-Surg RN pay benchmark — Milwaukee, WI → Med-Surg RN pay benchmark — Detroit, MI → All Med-Surg RN pay benchmarks →

Related roles in Minneapolis

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.