Med-Surg Nurse salary in Baton Rouge
A med-surg nurse in the Baton Rouge, LA area earns an estimated $85,840 a year ($41.27/hr) — about 12% below the U.S. average, with most between $70,690 and $98,870. City figures are estimates based on national pay for the role and local cost of living — a starting point, not a guaranteed local wage.
Med-Surg Nurse — Baton Rouge, LA
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$85,840
-12% vs nationalHourly
$41.27/hr
- Typical range
- $70,690–$98,870
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $120,970
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $60,670
- Newer nurses
Part of Med-Surg Nurse pay in Louisiana.
Other nursing roles in Baton Rouge
Compare estimated pay for related roles in this metro.
What affects med-surg nurse pay in Baton Rouge
Louisiana state capital metro. For a med-surg nurse, local pay also reflects the concentration of major hospital systems and academic medical centers, union contracts, shift differentials, unit acuity, and how competitive staffing is. Nights, weekends, and critical-care specialties typically add to base pay. Use the calculator to estimate your own.
How this estimate was calculated
The Baton Rouge figure adjusts the national RN average of $97,550 for local pay levels — a factor of 0.88× (about 12% below the U.S. average). It is a starting point — not an official Baton Rouge wage — until verified local figures and nurse submissions are loaded.
Local pay can vary well beyond this by specialty, shift, union status, employer type, overtime, and care setting. When official metro wage data is loaded, this number updates to a verified value automatically.
Use this metro estimate as a starting point
- It’s a starting point for Baton Rouge, based on national pay and local cost of living until official metro data is loaded — not a guaranteed local wage.
- Your actual pay shifts with role and specialty, care setting, shift, overtime, union status, and years of experience — so compare a role-specific page and personalize the calculator.
- Reviewed salary submissions from nurses in Baton Rouge make this page more precise over time.
Med-Surg Nurse salary in Baton Rouge — FAQ
- How much does a med-surg nurse make in Baton Rouge?
- A med-surg nurse in the Baton Rouge, LA area earns an estimated $85,840 a year — about $41.27 an hour, with most between $70,690 and $98,870. That's about 12% below the national average. This is an estimate based on the role's national pay and Baton Rouge's local pay level, not a guaranteed local wage.
- Is Baton Rouge a good place for med-surg nurses?
- On pay, Baton Rouge runs about 12% below the national average for med-surg nurses. Big-city wages are often offset by a higher cost of living, so weigh the estimated $85,840 against local housing and expenses.
- How does Baton Rouge med-surg nurse pay compare to Louisiana overall?
- Statewide, Louisiana med-surg nurses earn an estimated $83,890 a year, versus about $85,840 in Baton Rouge. Metro pay can run above or below the state figure depending on hospital concentration and local demand.
- Why are some figures verified and others estimates?
- National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.
Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.
Modeled estimate (BLS national × metro wage index)
Baton Rouge, LA figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a metro adjustment of 0.88×).
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figure — national med-surg nurse pay adjusted for Baton Rouge. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.