Most full-time staff OR nurses earn roughly $83,000 to $115,000 a year, or about $40 to $60 an hour. Travel OR nurses often earn $2,500 to $4,500 a week. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not have an Occupation Record for OR nurses. The median for all Registered Nurses (May 2025) is reported as $97,550.
The numbers of OR nurse salaries you’ll see online will vary greatly. One site says $53,000. Another says $115,000. Both look right.
This guide will tell you the reasons for the variations. It also indicates what to expect by state, setting, and experience. And how to get more paid.
Key takeaways
- The planning range for full-time staff OR nurses is realistic $83,000 – $115,000.
- According to BLS, all RNs are classified as the same type. The 2025 median is $97,550.
- The number one pay driver is location. The median wage for RNs in California is $140,270.
- Travel OR contracts offer higher weekly wages, but with some drawbacks.
- CNOR certification and call pay can raise your total pay.
How much do OR nurses make on average?
An OR nurse, also known as a perioperative nurse work with patients before, during and after surgery. BLS reports on registered nurses’ compensation, “all registered nurses. Does not report a separate number for OR nurses.
So we use two kinds of data: the BLS figure for all RNs, and estimates from salary sites that focus on OR nurses.
| Source | Figure | What it covers |
| BLS (May 2025) | $97,550 median, $101,420 mean | All registered nurses |
| Research.com | $88,644 average | Operating room nurses |
| Salary.com (via Nurse.org) | $82,800 average, about $40/hour | OR nurses |
| SkillGigs OR nurse guide | $87,000–$115,000, $40–$60/hour | Staff OR nurses (2025) |
| ZipRecruiter (July 2026) | $52,876 average | “Perioperative RN” job listings |
Why do the numbers differ?
Each source measures something different.
- Job posting sites or self-reported salary are used by salary sites. They have different hours, regions and titles.
- Low outliers may be attributable to part-time occupations or mixed job titles. Be careful about numbers such as $52,876.
- We suggest you budget $83,000 to $115,000 for full-time staff positions. Next, look at actual job postings in your state.
Our advice: plan around $83,000 to $115,000 for full-time staff roles. Then check real job postings in your state.
OR nurse salary by state
Where you work changes your pay more than almost anything else. BLS publishes RN pay by state. OR nurses follow the same pattern, because OR roles are RN roles.
Highest-paying states for RNs (BLS median, May 2025)
| State | Median annual wage | Median hourly wage |
| California | $140,270 | $67.44 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 | $65.54 |
| Oregon | $129,010 | $62.02 |
| Washington | $124,200 | $59.71 |
| Alaska | $109,480 | $52.64 |
| New York | $109,440 | $52.62 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 | $51.20 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 | $50.27 |
| Nevada | $103,670 | $49.84 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 | $49.39 |
Research.com’s OR-specific estimates show the same leaders: California at $137,690, Hawaii at $119,710, and Oregon at $113,440.
At the other end, Alabama had the lowest average RN wage at $77,020 (BLS, May 2025).
Pay is not the same as buying power
It’s not unusual for high wages to be met with high living expenses. BLS data was adjusted for cost of living by Becker’s Hospital Review. Oregon had the highest rate at $52.95 an hour. California was next at $50.77 followed by Washington at $51.21. The adjusted price of Hawaii dropped to $32.31.
Look at comparison offers based on what you’re keeping, not what you’re making.
OR nurse salary by experience
BLS does not split OR nurse pay by years of experience. Use the all-RN pay ladder as a guide.
| Level | Annual pay (all RNs, BLS May 2025) |
| Entry (10th percentile) | $68,940 |
| Lower-middle (25th percentile) | $80,330 |
| Median | $97,550 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $112,350 |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $137,470 |
The majority of new OR nurses will begin at the bottom end of this range. It takes time to develop OR skills. There are a number of hospitals that provide training to new nurses in the perioperative setting. As you develop scrub, circulation and specialty experience, you’ll find pay tends to increase.
Staff vs. per diem vs. travel OR nurse pay
Your work setting can change your pay a lot.
Staff OR nurse. You receive a regular wage, benefits, and sometimes call pay. Typically, the lowest of the three is hourly wages.
Per diem OR nurse. You learn to pick up shifts as necessary. These are typically paid at a higher hourly rate since you forgo benefits and a set number of hours.
Travel OR nurse. You’re given short contracts, typically 13 weeks. According to SkillGigs’ 2025 data, the cost of travel OR pay was $2,500 to $4,500 a week in high-demand areas. The average hourly travel OR in February 2026 was $65.62, and weekly wages typically ranged from $2,800 to $3,500 or more.
Here is the math. If you were to work all 52 weeks, a $3,000 per week contract would translate to approximately $156,000. Most travelers work on contracts with breaks between them, therefore the actual annual salary will be less.
Travel pay packages consist of base pay (which is taxable) and also stipends. Request your recruiter to give you a breakdown of the total amount. Look at the weekly headline number, not at take-home pay.
What affects OR nurse pay?
- Location. The demand for state, city and local is all important.
- Experience. Your worth goes up through scrub, circulating and specialty skills.
- Certification. The gold standard in perioperative nursing is the CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse). It is based on the Competency & Credentialing Institute. There is variance in impact on pay depending on the employer.
- Specialty. There is a need for cardiac, neuro, orthopedic and robotic surgery skills.
- Telephone calls and differentials. There are many OR nurses who take call. There are night/weekend/holiday differentials.
- Facility type. Different rates to hospitals, surgery centers and academic centers.
- Contract type. Per diem and travel work tend to be better suited to more hours for the money than staff work.
How to earn more as an OR nurse
- Earn your CNOR. It shows verified perioperative expertise. Ask your employer about certification pay.
- Build specialty skills. Focus on high-demand service lines.
- Move to a higher-paying state. Compare cost of living first.
- Take travel or per diem work. These options often pay more per hour.
- Look at call and differentials. Ask for the full pay structure, not just base pay.
- Plan your next step. Options include charge nurse, nurse manager, RN first assistant, or advanced practice.
For a big jump, consider anesthesia. BLS reported a median of $236,590 for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) in May 2025. That path takes more school and a competitive application.
Frequently asked questions
How much do OR nurses make per hour?
Most of the staff/OR nurses make approximately $40 to $60 an hour. According to BLS, all RNs have a median hourly wage of $46.90. Travel OR nurses make more per hour, with a recent average of approximately $65.
Do OR nurses make more than other nurses?
This is dependent on the source. OR nurses are not tracked separately by BLS. Salary sites rank OR pay near or slightly lower than the all-RN median salary. OR pay can be higher than travel or call pay and location.
What state pays OR nurses the most?
Registered nurses earn the most in California, where the median salary is $140,270 (BLS, May 2025). Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington are next. Adjusted for cost of living, Oregon leads.
How much do travel OR nurses make a week?
Travel OR nurses often earn $2,500 to $4,500 a week, depending on location, facility, and demand. Pay packages include taxable pay and stipends, so ask for a full breakdown.
Does CNOR certification increase pay?
It can. CNOR is the gold-standard credential for perioperative nurses. Some employers add a bonus or hourly step. Others value it in hiring and promotion. Ask about your employer’s policy.
How do I find OR nurse jobs?
Search hospital career pages, surgery centers, and healthcare job marketplaces. On SkillGigs, you can browse staff and travel OR nurse roles and see pay details before you apply.
Find your next OR nurse role
Pay varies a lot by state, setting, and contract. Compare real offers before you decide. Browse OR nurse jobs on SkillGigs to see staff and travel openings by location and pay.
