Do operating room nurses or icu nurses earn more in Washington?

In Washington, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $139,100 a year versus $134,140 for operating room nurses, a gap of about $4,960 (roughly 4% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported Washington pay for the closest reported role.

How much is the operating room nurse vs icu nurse pay gap in Washington?

The estimated gap in Washington is about $4,960 a year, or roughly 4% more for icu nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these Washington figures exact?

No — they're estimates, not separately reported wages. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Washington pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.

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.

Washington · WA

Operating Room Nurse vs ICU Nurse salary in Washington

In Washington, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $139,100 a year versus $134,140 for operating room nurses, a gap of about $4,960 (roughly 4% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Washington.

Operating Room Nurse — Washington

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$134,140

+27% vs national

Hourly

$64.49/hr

Median $134,140

$96,800Middle 50%: $111,350–$144,980$174,860

Typical range: $111,350–$144,980; What most nurses earn
High end: $174,860; Top earners
Entry level: $96,800; Newer nurses

ICU Nurse — Washington

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$139,100

+27% vs national

Hourly

$66.88/hr

Median $139,100

$100,390Middle 50%: $115,470–$150,350$181,340

Typical range: $115,470–$150,350; What most nurses earn
High end: $181,340; Top earners
Entry level: $100,390; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Washington

Operating room and ICU nurse pay is comparable, as both are high-acuity RN specialties on the same wage base. OR nursing centers on perioperative and surgical support with call coverage; ICU on continuous critical care. Certifications (CNOR, CCRN), call, and the local market drive most of the difference. The Washington figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Washington's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Operating Room Nurse vs ICU Nurse comparison or personalize the calculator.

Operating Room Nurse vs ICU Nurse in Washington — FAQ

Do operating room nurses or icu nurses earn more in Washington?: In Washington, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $139,100 a year versus $134,140 for operating room nurses, a gap of about $4,960 (roughly 4% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported Washington pay for the closest reported role.
How much is the operating room nurse vs icu nurse pay gap in Washington?: The estimated gap in Washington is about $4,960 a year, or roughly 4% more for icu nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these Washington figures exact?: No — they're estimates, not separately reported wages. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Washington pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.
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 specialty estimate (BLS state wage × specialty adjustment)

Public wage data does not report Operating Room Nurse separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in Washington (May 2025) and applies a 1.08× specialty adjustment.

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Washington. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.