What to Pay a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Tampa, FL (2026)
How to set your Med-Surg RN pay range in Tampa
Three pay positions, modeled against current Tampa market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
Med-Surg RN salary percentile distribution in Tampa, FL
Where the Tampa market actually sits for Med-Surg RN base pay.
Most Tampa 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.
Florida pay transparency compliance for Med-Surg RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a Med-Surg RN in Florida.
For a Med-Surg RN role in Tampa, 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 Tampa — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring Med-Surg RNs in the Tampa metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| BayCare Health System | Health system | $79K–$99K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| AdventHealth | Health system | $79K–$99K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Tampa General Hospital | Academic medical center | $79K–$99K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| HCA Florida (West Florida Healthcare) | Health system | $79K–$99K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Johns Hopkins All Children's | Pediatric specialty | $79K–$99K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
Med-Surg RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Tampa
How hard is it to fill a Med-Surg RN role in Tampa.
Tampa 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 Tampa, FL
| 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 Tampa — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for Med-Surg RNs in Tampa. "Prevalence" reflects share of Tampa disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Tampa 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 Tampa — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the Med-Surg RN range splits by employer type in the Tampa 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 Tampa, FL
Related Med-Surg RN pay benchmarks — Florida metros and nearby nursing roles
One page. One job. One city.
If you're modeling pay ranges across hundreds of roles and dozens of locations, doing this manually is the merit-cycle scramble that ate your last quarter. BetterComp keeps your full range structure current against live market data — without the survey lag.
See how it works →
Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.