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Nurse Manager - OR Salary in the United States

How much does a Nurse Manager - OR make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Nurse Manager - OR in the United States is $109,000 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

However, a Nurse Manager - OR's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $128,487
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $99,200 to $119,200
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $90,278

Key Factors That Influence Nurse Manager - OR Salaries

A Nurse Manager - OR's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Nurse Manager - OR Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Nurse Manager - OR's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $105,343
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $105,782
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $107,245
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $109,000
  • Expert (over 8 years): $111,588
Levels Salary
Entry Level Nurse Manager - OR$105,343
Intermediate Level Nurse Manager - OR$105,782
Senior Level Nurse Manager - OR$107,245
Specialist Level Nurse Manager - OR$109,000
Expert Level Nurse Manager - OR$111,588

Top Paying Cities for Nurse Manager - ORs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $137,500
  • San Francisco: $136,000
  • Oakland: $133,100

What Skills Can Increase a Nurse Manager - OR's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 13.4% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 2.3% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Clinical Nursing (Mentioned in 1.36% Job Postings): Clinical research nursing is defined as clinical nursing practice with a specialty focus on research implementation and the care of subjects participating in clinical research.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 13.4%
Acute Care 2.3%
Clinical Nursing 1.36%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Nurse Manager - OR's salary.

  • Clinical Nursing: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Nursing Practice: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Cardiac: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Clinical Nursing $120,990
11%
Nursing Practice $119,900
10%
Cardiac $119,900
10%

Nurse Manager - OR Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Nurse Manager - OR salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $115,692. While startup companies pay approximate $98,522.

Nurse Manager - OR Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $98,522
Growth Stage 51~500 $104,027
Established 501~5000 $111,883
Enterprise 5000+ $115,692

Nurse Manager - OR Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Nurse Manager - OR roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Nurse Manager - OR positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Nurse Manager - OR as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Nurse Manager - OR

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$119,900$58.010%

How Education impacts a Nurse Manager - OR's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Nurse Manager - ORs enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Nurse Manager - OR with a Bachelor's Degree is between $114,134 and $123,449).

Nurse Manager - OR Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Nurse Manager - OR
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.5%
High School 2.5%
Associates 38.3%
Bachelors 39.2%
Masters 19.2%
Doctorate 0.8%

Nurse Manager - OR Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Nurse Manager - OR's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$99,200
Average $109,000/year
$119,200
$8,267
Average $9,083/month
$9,933
$1,908
Average $2,096/week
$2,292
$48
Average $52/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $119,200 $9,933 $2,292 $57
Average $109,000 $9,083 $2,096 $52
25th Percentile $99,200 $8,267 $1,908 $48

Nurse Manager - OR Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Nurse Manager - OR, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Nurse Manager - OR Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
CCU Nurse Leader $109,000 0%
Nurse Senior Manager - ER $114,600 5%
Nursing Services Senior Manager $165,000 51%
Nurse Senior Manager - Obstetrics $123,200 13%

Most common benefits for Nurse Manager - OR

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Nurse Manager - OR

Here are companies hiring for Nurse Manager - OR and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Nurse Manager - OR

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Nurse Manager - OR?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Nurse Manager - OR roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

2. Is a nurse manager a stressful job?

The role of a nurse manager can be stressful, as it involves balancing leadership responsibilities with patient care. While some thrive on the complexity and find fulfillment in guiding their teams, others may experience negative physical and psychological effects due to the demands of the job. With salaries ranging from $106,200 to $143,000, the compensation reflects the challenges and responsibilities of the position.

3. What is the lowest paid position in a hospital?

The lowest paid positions in a hospital typically include roles like admitting clerks, activity aides, dietary aides, pharmacy technicians, and nursing aides. In contrast, a Nurse Manager in the Operating Room earns a minimum salary of $106,200, a mid-salary of $121,600, and a maximum salary of $143,000, reflecting the higher responsibility and expertise required for this role.

4. Do nurse managers hire nurses?

Yes, nurse managers do hire nurses. They are responsible for recruiting and selecting qualified candidates to join their teams. Additionally, they manage staffing needs, which includes finding replacement nurses—whether temporary or permanent—for their understaffed units. Nurse managers typically earn between $106,200 and $143,000, with a median salary of $121,600.

5. Do nurse managers get bonuses?

Nurse managers can receive bonuses based on their performance and the achievement of specific targets. Given their salary range, with a minimum of $106,200, a mid-range of $121,600, and a maximum of $143,000, incentive plans can be structured to reward successful outcomes, enhancing both motivation and team performance.

6. Which state pays nurses the most in USA?

California leads the U.S. in nurse salaries, offering an average of $137,690 annually. Following are Hawaii at $119,710, Oregon at $113,440, and Washington at $111,030. For Nurse Managers in the OR, salaries range from $106,200 to $143,000, with a midpoint of $121,600, reflecting the competitive pay in the healthcare sector.

7. Do nurse managers need a Masters?

Nurse Managers are typically advanced practice registered nurses who have earned at least a master's degree. They manage and oversee the nursing staff in a healthcare facility, also known as nurse administrators. In this role, they can expect a salary ranging from $106,200 to $143,000, with a median salary of $121,600.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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