How much is the pacu nurse vs operating room nurse pay gap in Alabama?

The estimated gap in Alabama is about $1,600 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 Alabama figures exact?

No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Alabama wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Alabama's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.

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.

Alabama · AL

PACU Nurse vs Operating Room Nurse salary in Alabama

In Alabama, operating room nurses earn more — an estimated $86,390 a year versus $84,790 for pacu nurses, a gap of about $1,600 (roughly 2% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Alabama.

PACU Nurse — Alabama

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$84,790

-18% vs national

Hourly

$40.76/hr

Median $84,790

$59,920Middle 50%: $69,820–$97,650$119,490

Typical range: $69,820–$97,650; What most nurses earn
High end: $119,490; Top earners
Entry level: $59,920; Newer nurses

Operating Room Nurse — Alabama

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$86,390

-18% vs national

Hourly

$41.53/hr

Median $86,390

$61,050Middle 50%: $71,140–$99,500$121,740

Typical range: $71,140–$99,500; What most nurses earn
High end: $121,740; Top earners
Entry level: $61,050; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Alabama

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 Alabama figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Alabama'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 Alabama — FAQ

Do pacu nurses or operating room nurses earn more in Alabama?: In Alabama, operating room nurses earn more — an estimated $86,390 a year versus $84,790 for pacu nurses, a gap of about $1,600 (roughly 2% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Alabama's local pay level.
How much is the pacu nurse vs operating room nurse pay gap in Alabama?: The estimated gap in Alabama is about $1,600 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 Alabama figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Alabama wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Alabama's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
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 estimate (BLS national × state wage index)

Alabama figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 0.82×).

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Alabama. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.