Average Starting Salary for a Surgical Nurse
A surgical nurse has the tedious job of assisting a surgeon with his responsibilities in the operating room. Most surgical nurses are registered and have the title RN beside their name. Since a surgical nurse is required to have a strong educational background and hands-on experience in emergency situations, her average starting salary reflects her experience in the medical field.
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Hourly Rate
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A surgical nurse's salary is determined by her hourly rate combined with her overtime hours. According to PayScale.com, the starting salary for a surgical nurse is approximately $24.34 per hour. If she works overtime, that hourly pay increases to $34.30 per hour. At the regular salary rate, a surgical nurse makes approximately $50,627 annually. Depending upon how many overtime hours she works, her annual salary goes up accordingly.
Geographical Location
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The average starting salary for a surgical nurse is dependent upon her geographical location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for a surgical nurse with the RN title in South Dakota is $25.73, and the hourly wage for a surgical nurse with the same credentials in California is $40.90. The starting salary for a nurse in California is almost 37 percent more than the starting salary for a surgical nurse in South Dakota.
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Surgical Hospitals
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A surgical nurse who is employed at a surgical hospital makes more than a surgical nurse who is employed at a nursing care facility. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a surgical nurse at a surgical hospital has an annual mean wage of $67,740. A surgical nurse at a nursing care facility has an average mean wage of $59,320. On average, a surgical nurse's starting salary at a surgical hospital is 12 percent more than a starting salary at a nursing facility.
Education
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The average starting salary for a surgical nurse is dependent upon her education and training. According to PayScale, a surgical nurse with a bachelor of science degree has an average starting salary around $25.19 per hour, which is equivalent to a full-time salary of $52,395 per year. On the other hand, a surgical nurse with only an associate degree earns approximately $22.45 per hour or $46,696 annually.
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References
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- Photo Credit operation nurse image by Andrey Rakhmatullin from Fotolia.com
