Side-by-side distribution
Nurse
$81,120
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 47.6%
- Live roles
- 5,287
Surgeon
$300,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 19.7%
- Live roles
- 122
Highest-paying jobs
Nurse Manager, MDS & Clinical Reimbursement
Psych Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP, Psych APRN)
Telehealth Nurse Practitioner (1099)
Synchronous Telehealth Nurse Practitioner (1099)
Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner (Dermatology Experience Required)
Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner - Cosmetic Focus (Experience Required)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) - Remote
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) - Remote
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) - Remote
Highest-paying jobs
Orthopaedic Surgeon | Staff Specialist | 0.5 FTE
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon - Mesa, AZ
Oral Surgeon Opportunity - Central New York
Orthopaedic Surgeon | Regional WA
Mohs Surgeon with Shareholder Track
Mohs Surgeon with Partnership-Shareholder Track
Oral Surgeon
Mohs Surgeon - Dermatologist
Breast Surgeon
Breast Surgeon
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
BAYADA Home Health Care
|
$69,680 | 492 |
| PH Pulse Healthcare | $68,789 | 319 |
MedElite Group, LLC.
|
$105,000 | 223 |
|
Greenlife Healthcare Staffing
|
$86,861 | 136 |
|
Lifestance
|
$225,000 | 98 |
One Medical
|
$169,850 | 77 |
Bethesda Health Group
|
$80,694 | 53 |
Serenity Mental Health Centers
|
$150,000 | 50 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Oral Surgery Partners
|
$225,000 | 4 |
|
Greenlife Healthcare Staffing
|
$350,000 | 3 |
|
HealthOp Solutions
|
$300,000 | 3 |
|
Mediix
|
$569,244 | 2 |
|
Platinum Dermatology Partners - Physicians
|
$450,000 | 2 |
Bond Vet
|
$247,500 | 2 |
|
Leading Edge Specialized Dentistry
|
$237,500 | 2 |
|
Vail Health Hospital
|
$450,000 | 1 |
Nurse salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $169,850 | 39 |
| Boston | $159,975 | 10 |
| Seattle | $150,675 | 8 |
| Los Angeles | $150,000 | 15 |
| Chicago | $139,360 | 9 |
| New York | $130,000 | 123 |
| Atlanta | $125,000 | 13 |
| Toronto | $76,960 | 5 |
| Austin | $70,720 | 9 |
| London | $68,967 | 76 |
Surgeon salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $350,000 | 5 |
Nurse vs Surgeon: which pays more?
The median for Nurse is $81,120 per year (typically $66,560–$124,200), versus $300,000 for Surgeon ($211,875–$450,000). That puts Surgeon about 270% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Nurse and Surgeon are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.