Psychiatric vs Med-Surg Nurse Salary
Psychiatric Nurses earn more — a national median of $100,480 vs $97,550, a gap of about $2,930 per year.
Psychiatric Nurse
Specialty estimate$100,480 / yr median
Med-Surg Nurse
Specialty estimate$97,550 / yr median
Annual pay, side by side
- Psychiatric NurseSpecialty estimate$100,480$48.31/hr
- Med-Surg NurseSpecialty estimate$97,550$46.90/hr
What the difference comes down to
Psychiatric and med-surg nurse pay is comparable, as both are staff RN roles on the same wage base. Psych nursing focuses on mental-health assessment, de-escalation, and behavioral care; med-surg on broad adult inpatient care. Setting, shift, and the local market matter more than the specialty itself. Scope of practice, required education, and autonomy are the biggest drivers of the gap. Use the calculator to personalize either path by your state, experience, and work setting.
Psychiatric vs Med-Surg Nurse Salary by state
Estimated pay gap for this comparison in each state.
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 specialty estimate
Psychiatric Nurse is not broken out by BLS. Figures are modeled from the SOC 29-1141 median using a specialty differential of 1.03×, reflecting commonly reported pay differences. Treat as directional, not precise.
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Last reviewed July 3, 2026.
Psychiatric vs Med-Surg Nurse Salary FAQ
- Do Psychiatric Nurses or Med-Surg Nurses earn more?
- Psychiatric Nurses earn more, with a national median of about $100,480 a year vs $97,550 for Med-Surg Nurses — a gap of roughly $2,930 per year.
- How big is the pay gap between Psychiatric Nurses and Med-Surg Nurses?
- The difference is about $2,930 a year, or roughly 3% more for Psychiatric Nurses. It varies by state, experience, setting, and shift — use the calculator to compare both for your own situation.
- Why do Psychiatric Nurses earn more than Med-Surg Nurses?
- Both roles are paid on the same registered-nurse base, so the gap comes down to certification, shift differentials, unit acuity, and the local market rather than a separate official wage.
- 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.
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