What to Pay a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in San Antonio, TX (2026)
How to set your Med-Surg RN pay range in San Antonio
Three pay positions, modeled against current San Antonio market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
Med-Surg RN salary percentile distribution in San Antonio, TX
Where the San Antonio market actually sits for Med-Surg RN base pay.
Most San Antonio employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($84,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $73,000 and a max of $97,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Texas pay transparency compliance for Med-Surg RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a Med-Surg RN in Texas.
For a Med-Surg RN role in San Antonio, a compliant good-faith range looks like $73,000 to $97,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $73,000–$97,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top Med-Surg RN employers in San Antonio — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring Med-Surg RNs in the San Antonio metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methodist Healthcare (HCA) | Health system | $79K–$99K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| University Health System | Public / Level I trauma | $79K–$99K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Baptist Health System (Tenet) | Health system | $79K–$99K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Christus Santa Rosa | Health system | $79K–$99K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Children's Hospital of San Antonio | Pediatric specialty | $79K–$99K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
Med-Surg RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in San Antonio
How hard is it to fill a Med-Surg RN role in San Antonio.
San Antonio 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 San Antonio, TX
| 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 San Antonio — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for Med-Surg RNs in San Antonio. "Prevalence" reflects share of San Antonio disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in San Antonio Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $84,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +12–20% premium | ~90% |
| Sign-on bonus | $7K–$15K | ~76% |
| CMSRN certification pay | +5–8% on base | ~48% |
| Overtime opportunity | $9K–$18K annualized | ~94% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$101K–$118K | — |
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 San Antonio — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the Med-Surg RN range splits by employer type in the San Antonio metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult med-surg (community) | $79,000 | $71K–$91K | Very high |
| Adult med-surg (academic) | $86,000 | $76K–$97K | Very high |
| Telemetry / step-down | $89,000 | $79K–$101K | Very high |
| Progressive care unit (PCU) | $91,000 | $81K–$102K | Very high |
| Ortho / surgical unit | $84,000 | $76K–$96K | High |
FAQ: hiring a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in San Antonio, TX
Related Med-Surg RN pay benchmarks — Texas 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.