Telemetry vs Med-Surg Nurse Salary
Telemetry Nurses earn more — a national median of $100,480 vs $97,550, a gap of about $2,930 per year.
Telemetry Nurse
Specialty estimate$100,480 / yr median
Med-Surg Nurse
Specialty estimate$97,550 / yr median
Annual pay, side by side
- Telemetry NurseSpecialty estimate$100,480$48.31/hr
- Med-Surg NurseSpecialty estimate$97,550$46.90/hr
What the difference comes down to
Telemetry and med-surg nurse pay is close, since both are staff RN roles built on the same wage base. Telemetry (cardiac-monitored) units run at slightly higher acuity, which can nudge pay and differentials up, but the biggest factors are the local market, shift, and experience rather than a separate official wage. 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.
Telemetry 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
Telemetry 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.
Telemetry vs Med-Surg Nurse Salary FAQ
- Do Telemetry Nurses or Med-Surg Nurses earn more?
- Telemetry 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 Telemetry Nurses and Med-Surg Nurses?
- The difference is about $2,930 a year, or roughly 3% more for Telemetry Nurses. It varies by state, experience, setting, and shift — use the calculator to compare both for your own situation.
- Why do Telemetry 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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