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

The estimated gap in Pennsylvania is about $1,920 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 Pennsylvania figures exact?

No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Pennsylvania wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Pennsylvania'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.

Pennsylvania · PA

PACU Nurse vs Operating Room Nurse salary in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, operating room nurses earn more — an estimated $103,250 a year versus $101,330 for pacu nurses, a gap of about $1,920 (roughly 2% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Pennsylvania.

PACU Nurse — Pennsylvania

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$101,330

Near national

Hourly

$48.72/hr

Median $101,330

$71,610Middle 50%: $83,450–$116,710$142,800

Typical range: $83,450–$116,710; What most nurses earn
High end: $142,800; Top earners
Entry level: $71,610; Newer nurses

Operating Room Nurse — Pennsylvania

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$103,250

Near national

Hourly

$49.64/hr

Median $103,250

$72,970Middle 50%: $85,020–$118,910$145,500

Typical range: $85,020–$118,910; What most nurses earn
High end: $145,500; Top earners
Entry level: $72,970; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Pennsylvania

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

Do pacu nurses or operating room nurses earn more in Pennsylvania?: In Pennsylvania, operating room nurses earn more — an estimated $103,250 a year versus $101,330 for pacu nurses, a gap of about $1,920 (roughly 2% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Pennsylvania's local pay level.
How much is the pacu nurse vs operating room nurse pay gap in Pennsylvania?: The estimated gap in Pennsylvania is about $1,920 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 Pennsylvania figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Pennsylvania wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Pennsylvania'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)

Pennsylvania figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 0.98×).

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

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