What to Pay a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Providence, RI (2026)
How to set your Med-Surg RN pay range in Providence
Three pay positions, modeled against current Providence market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
Med-Surg RN salary percentile distribution in Providence, RI
Where the Providence market actually sits for Med-Surg RN base pay.
Most Providence employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($97,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $84,000 and a max of $112,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Rhode Island pay transparency compliance for Med-Surg RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a Med-Surg RN in Rhode Island.
| Requirement | Applies When | Penalty for Non-Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Pay range on request or before an offer | The law applies to any employer with at least one employee in Rhode Island, with no minimum employee count. | Civil penalties run up to $1,000 for a first violation, up to $2,500 if the employer had one violation in the prior five years, and up to $5,000 if it had two or more in the prior seven years. Courts can also award compensatory damages, equitable relief, and attorney's fees. |
For a Med-Surg RN role in Providence, a compliant good-faith range looks like $84,000 to $112,000. You don't have to post it, but you must share it: employers must provide the wage range to an applicant on request, and the law says they should provide it before discussing compensation.
Top Med-Surg RN employers in Providence — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring Med-Surg RNs in the Providence metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | Academic medical center system | $91K–$114K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Care New England | Health system | $91K–$114K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| CharterCARE Health Partners | Health system | $91K–$114K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Hasbro Children's Hospital | Pediatric specialty | $91K–$114K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| South County Hospital | Community hospital | $87K–$111K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
Med-Surg RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Providence
How hard is it to fill a Med-Surg RN role in Providence.
Providence 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 Providence, RI
| 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 Providence — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for Med-Surg RNs in Providence. "Prevalence" reflects share of Providence disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Providence Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $97,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +12–20% premium | ~90% |
| Sign-on bonus | $8K–$17K | ~76% |
| CMSRN certification pay | +5–8% on base | ~48% |
| Overtime opportunity | $11K–$21K annualized | ~94% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$116K–$136K | — |
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 Providence — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the Med-Surg RN range splits by employer type in the Providence metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult med-surg (community) | $91,000 | $81K–$105K | Very high |
| Adult med-surg (academic) | $99,000 | $87K–$113K | Very high |
| Telemetry / step-down | $103,000 | $91K–$116K | Very high |
| Progressive care unit (PCU) | $105,000 | $93K–$118K | Very high |
| Ortho / surgical unit | $97,000 | $87K–$111K | High |
FAQ: hiring a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Providence, RI
Related Med-Surg RN pay benchmarks — Rhode Island 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.