OR vs ICU Nurse Salary
ICU Nurses earn more — a national median of $109,260 vs $105,350, a gap of about $3,910 per year.
Operating Room Nurse
Specialty estimate$105,350 / yr median
ICU Nurse
Specialty estimate$109,260 / yr median
Annual pay, side by side
- Operating Room NurseSpecialty estimate$105,350$50.65/hr
- ICU NurseSpecialty estimate$109,260$52.53/hr
What the difference comes down to
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. 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.
OR vs ICU 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
Operating Room Nurse is not broken out by BLS. Figures are modeled from the SOC 29-1141 median using a specialty differential of 1.08×, 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.
OR vs ICU Nurse Salary FAQ
- Do Operating Room Nurses or ICU Nurses earn more?
- ICU Nurses earn more, with a national median of about $109,260 a year vs $105,350 for Operating Room Nurses — a gap of roughly $3,910 per year.
- How big is the pay gap between Operating Room Nurses and ICU Nurses?
- The difference is about $3,910 a year, or roughly 4% more for ICU Nurses. It varies by state, experience, setting, and shift — use the calculator to compare both for your own situation.
- Why do ICU Nurses earn more than Operating Room 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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