PACU nurse pay
$103,074median posted offer#201 of 379 specialties
Read from 164 live PACU postings that state pay — 8% above the all-nursing median of $95,680. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $83k
- 25th percentile
- $92k
- 75th percentile
- $125k
- 90th percentile
- $146k
Where does your pay sit in PACU?
Checked against 164 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $83k
- 25th percentile
- $92k
- 75th percentile
- $125k
- 90th percentile
- $146k
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.
Where PACU pays the most
| # | State | Median | Top 10% from | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $133,120 | $217k | 39 |
| 2 | New York | $122,636 | $128k | 5 |
| 3 | Washington | $119,787 | $126k | 5 |
| 4 | Virginia | $115,232 | $149k | 6 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $112,195 | $124k | 5 |
| 6 | Colorado | $103,189 | $117k | 13 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $101,821 | $119k | 6 |
| 8 | Maryland | $100,724 | $110k | 7 |
| 9 | Arizona | $95,191 | $101k | 8 |
| 10 | Texas | $88,400 | $115k | 20 |
| 11 | Illinois | $87,360 | $95k | 8 |
| 12 | Florida | $76,960 | $185k | 7 |
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee open nursing rolesEvery 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?
- Across 164 live PACU postings that state pay, the median offer is $103,074 a year. The middle half runs $91,520–$124,800, and the top 10% start at $145,600.
- Does PACU pay more than nursing overall?
- PACU ranks #201 of 379 specialties on posted pay. Its median is 8% above the all-nursing median of $95,680.
- Which states pay PACU nurses the most?
- By posted median right now: #1 California ($133,120), #2 New York ($122,636), #3 Washington ($119,787). Rankings move as postings change — this page updates continuously.