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

In Washington, operating room nurses earn more — an estimated $134,140 a year versus $131,650 for pacu nurses, a gap of about $2,490 (roughly 2% 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 pacu nurse vs operating room nurse pay gap in Washington?

The estimated gap in Washington is about $2,490 a year, or roughly 2% more for operating room 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

PACU Nurse vs Operating Room Nurse salary in Washington

In Washington, operating room nurses earn more — an estimated $134,140 a year versus $131,650 for pacu nurses, a gap of about $2,490 (roughly 2% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Washington.

PACU Nurse — Washington

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$131,650

+27% vs national

Hourly

$63.29/hr

Median $131,650

$95,010Middle 50%: $109,290–$142,290$171,620

Typical range: $109,290–$142,290; What most nurses earn
High end: $171,620; Top earners
Entry level: $95,010; Newer nurses

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

Why the gap in Washington

PACU (post-anesthesia) and OR nurse pay is close, since both are perioperative RN roles on the same wage base. OR nursing carries surgical-case and call demands; PACU focuses on recovery and airway monitoring. Certifications, call coverage, and the local market drive the small differences. 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 PACU Nurse vs Operating Room Nurse comparison or personalize the calculator.

PACU Nurse vs Operating Room Nurse in Washington — FAQ

Do pacu nurses or operating room nurses earn more in Washington?: In Washington, operating room nurses earn more — an estimated $134,140 a year versus $131,650 for pacu nurses, a gap of about $2,490 (roughly 2% 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 pacu nurse vs operating room nurse pay gap in Washington?: The estimated gap in Washington is about $2,490 a year, or roughly 2% more for operating room 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 PACU 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 1.06× specialty adjustment.

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

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