What to Pay a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Portland, OR (2026)
How to set your Med-Surg RN pay range in Portland
Three pay positions, modeled against current Portland market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
Med-Surg RN salary percentile distribution in Portland, OR
Where the Portland market actually sits for Med-Surg RN base pay.
Most Portland employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($120,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $104,000 and a max of $138,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Oregon pay transparency compliance for Med-Surg RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a Med-Surg RN in Oregon.
For a Med-Surg RN role in Portland, a compliant good-faith range looks like $104,000 to $138,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $104,000–$138,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top Med-Surg RN employers in Portland — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring Med-Surg RNs in the Portland metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHSU | Academic medical center | $113K–$142K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Providence Health & Services | Health system | $113K–$142K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Legacy Health | Health system | $113K–$142K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Kaiser Permanente Northwest | Integrated health system | $113K–$142K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Randall Children's Hospital | Pediatric specialty | $113K–$142K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
Med-Surg RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Portland
How hard is it to fill a Med-Surg RN role in Portland.
Portland 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 Portland, OR
| 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 Portland — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for Med-Surg RNs in Portland. "Prevalence" reflects share of Portland disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Portland Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $120,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +12–20% premium | ~90% |
| Sign-on bonus | $10K–$22K | ~76% |
| CMSRN certification pay | +5–8% on base | ~48% |
| Overtime opportunity | $13K–$26K annualized | ~94% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$144K–$168K | — |
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 Portland — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the Med-Surg RN range splits by employer type in the Portland metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult med-surg (community) | $113,000 | $101K–$130K | Very high |
| Adult med-surg (academic) | $122,000 | $108K–$139K | Very high |
| Telemetry / step-down | $127,000 | $113K–$144K | Very high |
| Progressive care unit (PCU) | $130,000 | $115K–$146K | Very high |
| Ortho / surgical unit | $120,000 | $108K–$137K | High |
FAQ: hiring a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Portland, OR
Related Med-Surg RN pay benchmarks — Oregon metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.