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Nursing Manager - Operating Room Salary in the United States

How much does a Nursing Manager - Operating Room make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Nursing Manager - Operating Room in the United States is $108,944 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $128,348
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $99,190 to $119,101
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $90,309

Key Factors That Influence Nursing Manager - Operating Room Salaries

A Nursing Manager - Operating Room'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 Nursing Manager - Operating Room Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Nursing Manager - Operating Room'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): $105,304
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $105,741
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $107,197
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $108,944
  • Expert (over 8 years): $111,521
Levels Salary
Entry Level Nursing Manager - Operating Room$105,304
Intermediate Level Nursing Manager - Operating Room$105,741
Senior Level Nursing Manager - Operating Room$107,197
Specialist Level Nursing Manager - Operating Room$108,944
Expert Level Nursing Manager - Operating Room$111,521

Top Paying Cities for Nursing Manager - Operating Room

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: $137,411
  • San Francisco: $135,907
  • Oakland: $133,042

What Skills Can Increase a Nursing Manager - Operating Room'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 Nursing Manager - Operating Room'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 $120,928
11%
Nursing Practice $119,838
10%
Cardiac $119,838
10%

Nursing Manager - Operating Room Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Nursing Manager - Operating Room salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $115,559. While startup companies pay approximate $98,473.

Nursing Manager - Operating Room Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $98,473
Growth Stage 51~500 $103,951
Established 501~5000 $111,780
Enterprise 5000+ $115,559

Nursing Manager - Operating Room Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Nursing Manager - Operating Room 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, Nursing Manager - Operating Room positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Nursing Manager - Operating Room as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Nursing Manager - Operating Room

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$119,838$58.010%

How Education impacts an Nursing Manager - Operating Room's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Nursing Manager - Operating Room with a Bachelor's Degree is between $114,568 and $123,901.

Nursing Manager - Operating Room Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Nursing Manager - Operating Room
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%

Nursing Manager - Operating Room Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Nursing Manager - Operating Room'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
$99,190
Average $108,944/year
$119,101
$8,266
Average $9,079/month
$9,925
$1,908
Average $2,095/week
$2,290
$48
Average $52/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $119,101 $9,925 $2,290 $57
Average $108,944 $9,079 $2,095 $52
25th Percentile $99,190 $8,266 $1,908 $48

Nursing Manager - Operating Room Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Nursing Manager - Operating Room, 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.

Nursing Manager - Operating Room Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Nursing Senior Manager - CCU $108,939 0%
Nursing Senior Manager - Emergency Room $114,567 5%
Nursing Senior Manager $164,953 51%
Nursing Senior Manager - Obstetrics $114,567 5%

Most common benefits for Nursing Manager - Operating Room

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

Common company salaries for Nursing Manager - Operating Room

Here are companies hiring for Nursing Manager - Operating Room and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Nursing Manager - Operating Room

1. Where can a Nursing Manager - Operating Room earn the most?

A Nursing Manager - Operating Room's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Nursing Manager - Operating Room earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Nursing Manager - Operating Room is $137,411.

2. What is the highest pay for Nursing Manager - Operating Room?

The highest pay for Nursing Manager - Operating Room is $128,348.

3. What is the lowest pay for Nursing Manager - Operating Room?

The lowest pay for Nursing Manager - Operating Room is $90,309.

4. What are the responsibilities of Nursing Manager - Operating Room?

Directs nursing service activities for assigned patients in the operating room. Delegates responsibilities to auxiliary and operating room staff nurses. Supervises preparation and maintenance of patient clinical records and writes reports on operating room staff performance and services rendered. Maintains pre-set inventory standards for solutions, supplies, medicines and equipment, and keeps track of narcotics. Requires a bachelor's degree in nursing. Requires Registered Nurse (RN). Typically requires Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Nursing Manager - Operating Room?

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

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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