PACU nurse pay in California
$133,120median posted offer#1 of 12 states for PACU
PACU nurses in California are being offered a median $133,120 a year across 39 live postings that state pay — 29% above the national PACU median of $103,074. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $99k
- 25th percentile
- $120k
- 75th percentile
- $157k
- 90th percentile
- $217k
Where does your pay sit in PACU in California?
Checked against 39 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $99k
- 25th percentile
- $120k
- 75th percentile
- $157k
- 90th percentile
- $217k
Enter your pay to see your percentile.
Posted offers on live listings — not take-home pay or a promise of what any one nurse will earn.
Other specialties in California
- Nursing Administration 5 postings$230k
- Nursing Management 12 postings$220k
- Oncology Nursing 5 postings$215k
- Nursing Education 7 postings$214k
- Nursing Leadership 8 postings$206k
- Cardiovascular Surgery 6 postings$204k
- Cardiothoracic Surgery 9 postings$204k
- Family Medicine 5 postings$194k
Or see all nurse pay in California (5,353 postings), or PACU pay across every state.
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee open nursing roles in CaliforniaEvery posting behind these numbers is a live job you can open and apply to.
- Offer in hand?Review an offerTurn it into a full-year number, see what it's worth where you'd live, and compare offers side by side.
- 3-minute PULSEFind the work that brings out your bestPay is one axis. Your pace, decision style, connection, scope, and energy rhythm shape the rest.
- CommunityAsk nurses what they really take homeDifferentials, ratios, and the offer nobody posts. Bring your number and compare notes.
Want the craft behind the numbers — differentials, negotiating, travel packages? Read the pay & salary guides.
Questions nurses ask
- How much do PACU nurses make in California?
- Across 39 live PACU postings in California that state pay, the median offer is $133,120 a year. The middle half runs $119,600–$156,972, and the top 10% start at $216,774.
- Is California a good state for PACU nurses?
- On posted pay, California ranks #1 of 12 states for PACU. The median there is 29% above the national PACU median of $103,074. Pay is one axis — shift, ratios, and cost of living decide whether the job is worth it.