What are the main factors that influence a PACU Nurse's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for PACU Nurse?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for PACU Nurse roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

How does experience change A PACU Nurse's salary?

A PACU Nurse's salary grows with experience: starting around $95,318 for beginners, reaching about $98,961 at mid-level, and approach $104,044 for experts.

What are the highest paying cities for a PACU Nurse?

PACU Nurse salary varies significantly by city. The top 3 highest paying cities in Illinois for PACU Nurse roles are San Jose $122,000, San Francisco $120,700, Oakland $118,100.

How much do different types of PACU Nurse roles make?

Salaries for PACU Nurse level roles vary by specialization: Registered Nurse PACU PRN: $252,070; Travel PACU Registered Nurse: $250,594; Registered Nurse PACU: $248,577; Registered Nurse RN PACU: $245,403; PACU Registered Nurse Travel /Week: $98,630.

What specialized skills increase a PACU Nurse's salary?

Skills with high demand and low supply, such as Employee Engagement (up to 7% premium), Risk Management (up to 6% premium), Verbal Communication (up to 6% premium), directly translate to higher compensation. Employers pay more for these capabilities to gain a competitive edge.

PACU Nurse Salary in Wheeling, IL

How much does a PACU Nurse make in Wheeling, IL?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a PACU Nurse in Wheeling, IL is $98,100 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $119,688
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $89,600 to $109,400
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81,861

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

Recruit with AI

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

PACU Nurse Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$109,400	$9,117	$2,104	$53
Average	$98,100	$8,175	$1,887	$47
25th Percentile	$89,600	$7,467	$1,723	$43

Get accurate pay by adjusting the below factors.

Change Search Criteria

Check out PACU Nurse Job Openings in Wheeling, IL

Mold Assembly Technician

Dynomax Inc. - Wheeling, IL

Guest Service Attendant

Tracy's Bistro - Wheeling, IL

Shipping Clerk

Vantedge Medical - Wheeling, IL

Caregiver

Right at Home Northwest Suburban Chicago - Wheeling, IL

Search More PACU Nurse Jobs in Wheeling, IL

Key Factors That Influence PACU Nurse Salaries

A PACU Nurse'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, skills, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects PACU Nurse Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a PACU Nurse'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): $95,318
Early Career (1-2 years): $95,572
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $98,961
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $103,705
Expert (over 8 years): $104,044

Levels	Salary
Entry Level PACU Nurse	$95,318
Intermediate Level PACU Nurse	$95,572
Senior Level PACU Nurse	$98,961
Specialist Level PACU Nurse	$103,705
Expert Level PACU Nurse	$104,044

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for PACU Nurses

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: $122,000
San Francisco: $120,700
Oakland: $118,100

San Jose, CA $122,000

San Francisco, CA $120,700

Oakland, CA $118,100

New York, NY $111,400

Paramus, NJ $110,000

Queens Village, NY $110,000

Passaic, NJ $109,900

Bergenfield, NJ $109,900

Huntington, NY $109,700

Stamford, CT $109,700

Newark, NJ $109,000

Bridgeport, CT $108,800

Vallejo, CA $108,600

New Brunswick, NJ $108,500

Petaluma, CA $108,500

Middlesex, NJ $108,300

Somerset, NJ $108,200

Santa Cruz, CA $108,100

Boston, MA $107,500

Monterey, CA $107,200

Seattle, WA $106,900

Santa Rosa, CA $106,900

Los Angeles, CA $106,900

Juneau, AK $106,600

Washington, DC $106,500

Orange, CA $106,200

Santa Ana, CA $105,900

Anchorage, AK $105,800

Anaheim, CA $105,800

Long Beach, CA $105,800

Santa Maria, CA $105,500

Everett, WA $105,500

Danbury, CT $105,100

Bremerton, WA $105,000

Tacoma, WA $104,600

New Suffolk, NY $104,600

Sacramento, CA $104,600

Santa Barbara, CA $104,500

Trenton, NJ $104,400

San Diego, CA $104,400

Brockton, MA $104,300

Fairbanks, AK $104,100

Lompoc, CA $103,800

Lowell, MA $103,700

Ventura, CA $103,700

Nashua, NH $103,700

Stockton, CA $103,700

Modesto, CA $103,000

Poughkeepsie, NY $102,800

Kennewick, WA $102,600

Olympia, WA $102,600

New Haven, CT $102,500

Lawrence, MA $102,200

Hartford, CT $102,100

Riverside, CA $102,100

New Bedford, MA $102,000

Richland, WA $102,000

San Bernardino, CA $101,800

New London, CT $101,800

Atlantic City, NJ $101,800

Bakersfield, CA $101,800

New Britain, CT $101,800

Norwich, CT $101,700

Portsmouth, NH $101,700

Boulder, CO $101,500

Portland, OR $101,400

Worcester, MA $101,400

Minneapolis, MN $101,100

Philadelphia, PA $100,900

Honolulu, HI $100,600

Saint Paul, MN $100,600

Vineland, NJ $100,500

Providence, RI $100,300

Chicago, IL $100,000

Bellingham, WA $99,900

Springfield, MA $99,800

Baltimore, MD $99,800

Chico, CA $99,500

Pittsfield, MA $99,300

Manchester, NH $99,100

Spokane, WA $98,600

Denver, CO $98,600

Albany, NY $98,200

Troy, NY $98,100

Nassau, NY $98,000

Schenectady, NY $97,900

Wilmington, DE $97,900

Burlington, VT $97,700

Salem, OR $97,700

Portland, ME $97,400

Yakima, WA $97,300

Rochester, MN $97,000

Reno, NV $96,900

Fresno, CA $96,900

Milwaukee, WI $96,900

Detroit, MI $96,800

Ann Arbor, MI $96,700

Allentown, PA $96,700

Colorado Springs, CO $96,600

Carson City, NV $96,500

Syracuse, NY $96,500

Houston, TX $96,400

Eugene, OR $96,300

Gary, IN $96,200

Springfield, OR $96,100

Bismarck, ND $96,100

Galveston, TX $96,100

Medford, OR $95,900

Fort Collins, CO $95,900

Austin, TX $95,800

Concord, NH $95,800

Mesa, AZ $95,600

Reading, PA $95,600

Phoenix, AZ $95,600

Dallas, TX $95,500

Saint Cloud, MN $95,400

Madison, WI $95,300

Utica, NY $95,100

Raleigh, NC $94,900

Des Moines, IA $94,900

Rochester, NY $94,900

Atlanta, GA $94,700

Battle Creek, MI $94,700

Salt Lake City, UT $94,700

Lancaster, PA $94,500

Harrisburg, PA $94,400

Columbus, OH $94,300

Champaign, IL $94,300

Fort Worth, TX $94,300

Kansas City, MO $94,300

Kansas City, KS $94,300

Boca Raton, FL $94,200

Pittsburgh, PA $94,200

Richmond, VA $94,200

Indianapolis, IN $94,100

Cleveland, OH $94,100

Las Vegas, NV $94,000

Cincinnati, OH $94,000

Petersburg, VA $93,900

Lansing, MI $93,700

Huntsville, AL $93,700

Lebanon, PA $93,600

Pueblo, CO $93,600

Appleton, WI $93,600

Buffalo, NY $93,600

Dayton, OH $93,500

Racine, WI $93,500

Charlotte, NC $93,500

Saint Louis, MO $93,500

Beaumont, TX $93,400

Billings, MT $93,400

York, PA $93,400

Elkhart, IN $93,400

Gastonia, NC $93,400

Binghamton, NY $93,300

Lorain, OH $93,300

Benton Harbor, MI $93,300

Toledo, OH $93,300

Springfield, IL $93,200

Rock Hill, SC $93,200

Rockford, IL $93,200

Elyria, OH $93,100

Fargo, ND $93,100

Flagstaff, AZ $93,100

Fort Lauderdale, FL $93,000

Duluth, MN $93,000

Miami, FL $93,000

Cheyenne, WY $92,900

Grand Forks, ND $92,900

Bangor, ME $92,700

Cedar Rapids, IA $92,600

Durham, NC $92,500

Louisville, KY $92,500

Grand Rapids, MI $92,500

Hialeah, FL $92,500

Casper, WY $92,400

Virginia Beach, VA $92,200

Akron, OH $92,200

Scranton, PA $92,200

New Orleans, LA $92,200

Peoria, IL $92,000

Sarasota, FL $92,000

Nashville, TN $91,900

Omaha, NE $91,900

Green Bay, WI $91,900

Baton Rouge, LA $91,900

Charleston, SC $91,900

Tucson, AZ $91,800

Jamestown, NY $91,800

Davenport, IA $91,800

Saint Petersburg, FL $91,700

Tampa, FL $91,700

Evansville, IN $91,600

Port Arthur, TX $91,600

Bradenton, FL $91,600

Santa Fe, NM $91,400

Orlando, FL $91,300

Clearwater, FL $91,200

Newport News, VA $91,000

Albuquerque, NM $91,000

La Crosse, WI $91,000

Canton, OH $91,000

High Point, NC $90,900

Ogden, UT $90,900

Corpus Christi, TX $90,800

Norfolk, VA $90,800

Laramie, WY $90,800

Saginaw, MI $90,700

Jacksonville, FL $90,700

Rock Island, IL $90,700

Salisbury, NC $90,600

Boise, ID $90,600

Moline, IL $90,600

Fort Myers, FL $90,600

Memphis, TN $90,500

Tulsa, OK $90,500

Waterloo, IA $90,400

Provo, UT $90,300

Fort Wayne, IN $90,300

Spartanburg, SC $90,300

Lincoln, NE $90,300

Cedar Falls, IA $90,100

San Antonio, TX $90,100

Greensboro, NC $90,100

South Bend, IN $90,000

Savannah, GA $89,900

Muskegon, MI $89,900

Birmingham, AL $89,900

Winston Salem, NC $89,800

Lake Charles, LA $89,600

Anderson, IN $89,600

Lexington, KY $89,600

Wichita, KS $89,500

Lima, OH $89,500

Tuscaloosa, AL $89,500

Augusta, GA $89,500

Greenville, SC $89,500

Columbia, SC $89,400

Springfield, OH $89,300

Asheville, NC $89,200

Bloomington, IN $89,100

Knoxville, TN $88,800

Shreveport, LA $88,800

Wilmington, NC $88,600

Roanoke, VA $88,600

Topeka, KS $88,500

Frankfort, KY $88,500

Oklahoma City, OK $88,400

Melbourne, FL $88,300

Chillicothe, OH $88,300

Longview, TX $88,300

Sioux Falls, SD $88,200

Mobile, AL $88,200

Terre Haute, IN $88,100

Altoona, PA $88,100

Killeen, TX $88,000

Amarillo, TX $88,000

Chattanooga, TN $87,900

Fayetteville, AR $87,900

Sioux City, IA $87,800

Idaho Falls, ID $87,800

Lynchburg, VA $87,700

Gainesville, FL $87,600

Portsmouth, OH $87,500

Little Rock, AR $87,500

Temple, TX $87,400

Pensacola, FL $87,400

Clarksville, TN $87,400

Daytona Beach, FL $87,400

Youngstown, OH $87,400

Lafayette, LA $87,400

Hopkinsville, KY $87,100

Erie, PA $87,100

Florence, SC $87,000

Charleston, WV $86,900

Great Falls, MT $86,800

Fayetteville, NC $86,700

Tallahassee, FL $86,700

Macon, GA $86,700

Waco, TX $86,600

Helena, MT $86,600

Pine Bluff, AR $86,500

Vincennes, IN $86,400

Lubbock, TX $86,400

Alamogordo, NM $86,300

Twin Falls, ID $86,200

Rapid City, SD $86,200

Greenville, MS $86,000

Jackson, MS $86,000

Huntington, WV $86,000

Parkersburg, WV $85,900

Montgomery, AL $85,900

Wichita Falls, TX $85,800

Springfield, MO $85,800

Biloxi, MS $85,800

Monroe, LA $85,700

Sumter, SC $85,600

Johnstown, PA $85,600

Columbus, GA $85,500

Pascagoula, MS $85,400

Abilene, TX $85,400

Kingsport, TN $85,100

Albany, GA $85,100

Gulfport, MS $85,100

Alexandria, LA $84,800

Fort Smith, AR $84,500

El Paso, TX $84,300

Las Cruces, NM $83,800

Harlingen, TX $83,600

Pocatello, ID $83,600

Florence, AL $83,400

Brownsville, TX $83,400

Mcallen, TX $83,200

Dothan, AL $83,100

Columbus, MS $82,500

Altus, OK $82,100

Lawton, OK $81,900

Pierre, SD $81,500

What Skills Can Increase a PACU Nurse's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Planning (Mentioned in 4.88% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
Anesthesia (Mentioned in 3.92% Job Postings): Administering and controlling sedations and narcotics to help patients relieve pain during various surgeries and treatments.
CPR (Mentioned in 2.11% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Planning	4.88%
Anesthesia	3.92%
CPR	2.11%

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 PACU Nurse's salary.

Employee Engagement: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Risk Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Employee Engagement	$104,967	7%
Risk Management	$103,986	6%
Verbal Communication	$103,986	6%
Accountability	$103,986	6%
Anesthesia	$103,005	5%
Ambulatory Surgery	$103,005	5%

Get Latest Data

PACU Nurse Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

PACU Nurse salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $104,057. While startup companies pay approximate $88,671.

PACU Nurse Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$88,671
Growth Stage	51~500	$93,604
Established	501~5000	$100,654
Enterprise	5000+	$104,057

PACU Nurse Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For PACU Nurse roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, PACU Nurse positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view PACU Nurse as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a PACU Nurse

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare	$117,720	$57.0	20%

PACU Nurse Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a PACU Nurse'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 August 01, 2026

$89,600

Average $98,100/year

$109,400

$7,467

Average $8,175/month

$9,117

$1,723

Average $1,887/week

$2,104

$43

Average $47/hour

$53

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$109,400	$9,117	$2,104	$53
Average	$98,100	$8,175	$1,887	$47
25th Percentile	$89,600	$7,467	$1,723	$43

PACU Nurse Salary Growth & Career Path

PACU Nurse

Director Mother and Baby Unit

Director Intensive Care Unit Operations

Entry Registered Nurse - Staff

Organ Transplant Coordinator RN

Intermediate Registered Nurse - Staff

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a PACU Nurse, 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.

PACU Nurse Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role	Estimate Salary	Projected Raise
Director Mother and Baby Unit	$164,200	67%
Director Intensive Care Unit Operations	$156,300	59%
Entry Registered Nurse - Staff	$74,600	-24%
Organ Transplant Coordinator RN	$111,600	14%

Salaries of jobs related to PACU Nurse

Find Your Next PACU Nurse Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current PACU Nurse job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

LaborPRO Staffing

Wheeling, IL

Forklift Operator Material Handler

LaborPRO Staffing | Wheeling, IL

Key Notes About Position 2nd Shift positions available:M-F. 10:30am - 7:00pm 3rd shift positions available:M-F. 8:30pm - 5:00am(pay differential for 3rd sh... more

3 Days Ago
Fresh Tech Maid

Wheeling, IL

Inside Sales Customer Service Associate

Fresh Tech Maid | Wheeling, IL

Description :Remote Inside Sales / Customer Service AssociateChicago, IL, United StatesJob DescriptionUnlock Your Potential with Us. Are you a driven Remot... more

4 Days Ago
WebProps.org

Wheeling, IL

Starlink Installation Pros

WebProps.org | Wheeling, IL

THIS is the 6-FIGURE opportunity you've been looking for.We provide the leads, you just bring the heat. Currently, we are averaging 40leads per day, which ... more

4 Days Ago
Aegis Worldwide

Wheeling, IL

Production Supervisor

Aegis Worldwide | Wheeling, IL

Aegis is currently partnering with a long-standing, reputable manufacturing firm in Antioch to identify a Production Supervisor to join their growing team.... more

6 Days Ago
TG Wheeling LLC

Wheeling, IL

Automotive Internet Sales Representative

TG Wheeling LLC | Wheeling, IL

Tasca Chevrolet in Wheeling is seeking talented and outgoing individuals to join our multi-location team in BDC Internet Sales.You will create/schedule/con... more

7 Days Ago
Handi-foil Corp

Wheeling, IL

Maintenance Mechanic

Handi-foil Corp | Wheeling, IL

Job Description:Handi-Foil Corp., an industry leader in the manufacture, sale, marketing and distribution of disposable aluminum bakeware has immediate ope... more

7 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Wheeling, IL

Cost of Living in Wheeling, IL is

8.4% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about

Salary Search

Salary Calculator Tools

Know Your Worth

Advance at Work

Explore Career Path

Land Your Next Role

Software + AI

Data

Survey Catalogue