Operational Nursing Manager Salary in the United States

How much does an Operational Nursing Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Operational Nursing Manager in the United States is $134,916 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $65.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $160,747
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $123,814 to $148,437
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $113,706
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View as table View as graph 25% $123,814 10% $113,706 90% $160,747 75% $148,437 $134,916 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Operational Nursing Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $148,437 $12,370 $2,855 $71
Average $134,916 $11,243 $2,595 $65
25th Percentile $123,814 $10,318 $2,381 $60
Check out Operational Nursing Manager Job Openings in the United States
Nursing Manager

Sevita - Columbus, OH

Nursing Assistant

Provider Health Services LLC - Columbus, OH

Instructor of Nursing

Capital University - Columbus, OH

Allied Health and Nursing Instructor

Educational Solutions Company - Columbus, OH

Search More Operational Nursing Manager Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Operational Nursing Manager Salaries

An Operational Nursing Manager'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 Operational Nursing Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Operational Nursing Manager'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): $100,737
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $114,442
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $133,922
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $162,231
  • Expert (over 8 years): $199,269
Levels Salary
Charge Nu... Level Operational Nursing Manager$100,737
Nursing S... Level Operational Nursing Manager$114,442
Operation... Level Operational Nursing Manager$133,922
Nursing S... Level Operational Nursing Manager$162,231
Nursing D... Level Operational Nursing Manager$199,269
$100,737 0 yr
$114,442 < 2 yrs
$133,922 2-4 yrs
$162,231 5-8 yrs
$199,269 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Operational Nursing Managers

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: $170,170
  • San Francisco: $168,306
  • Oakland: $164,759

What Skills Can Increase an Operational Nursing Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 9.73% 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 2.58% 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.
  • Assisted Living (Mentioned in 1.48% Job Postings): Assisted living exemplifies the shift from "care as service" to "care as business" in the broader health care arena predicted more than three decades ago. A consumer-driven industry, assisted living offers a wide range of options, levels of care, and diversity of services (Lockhart, 2009) and is subject to state rather than federal regulatory oversight. "Assisted living" means depends on both the state and provider in question: variations in state regulatory definitions are significant and provider variables include everything from philosophy, geographic location and auspice, to organizational size and structure.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 9.73%
Acute Care 2.58%
Assisted Living 1.48%
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 an Operational Nursing Manager's salary.
  • Risk Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Clinical Nursing: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Risk Management
$144,360
7%
Alignment
$140,313
4%
Clinical Nursing
$138,963
3%
Care Management
$138,963
3%
Communication Skills
$138,963
3%
Quality Improvement
$137,614
2%
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Operational Nursing Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Operational Nursing Manager 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, Operational Nursing Manager positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Operational Nursing Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Operational Nursing Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$161,899$78.020%

How Education impacts an Operational Nursing Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Operational Nursing Managers 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 an Operational Nursing Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $119,641 and $126,006).

Operational Nursing Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Operational Nursing Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 3.5%
Associates 23.8%
Bachelors 46.0%
Masters 25.6%
Doctorate 0.9%
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Operational Nursing Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Operational Nursing Manager'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

Salary Trends for Operational Nursing Manager

Salaries for an Operational Nursing Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $105,980 in 2023 to around $106,032 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Operational Nursing Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Operational Nursing Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$105,980
2024
$106,335
2025
$106,032
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $105,980
2024 $106,335
2025 $106,032
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Operational Nursing Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Operational Nursing Manager

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

Find Your Next Operational Nursing Manager Job

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

United States
  • Allbridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

    Columbus, OH

    Allbridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. $5,000 Sign on Bonus. Allbridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. is currently seeking a full-time. LNHA. Nursing Home A... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Department Head, Non-Nursing. About the Company. Senior living organizations committed to innovation and outstanding resident services. Industry. Hospital ... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Saber Community Support and Development Office

    Columbus, OH

    Saber Community Support and Development Office | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Lead with heart and purpose - join us as a Director of Nursing in Training where your leadership helps create a supportiv... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Scioto Rehabilitation &amp; Care Center

    Columbus, OH

    Scioto Rehabilitation &amp; Care Center | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Licensed Registered Nurse. Reports directly to the Director of Nursing, assisting in the management of facility, people, ... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Allbridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

    Columbus, OH

    Allbridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. $7,500 Sign on Bonus. Allbridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. is looking for an experienced. Director of Nursing. fo... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Bella Terrace

    Columbus, OH

    Bella Terrace | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Bella Terrace, a beautiful 99-bed facility located in Columbus OH. is looking for an experienced. Director of Nursing. A more

    6 Days Ago

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FAQ about Operational Nursing Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Operational Nursing Manager?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Operational Nursing Manager roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.)

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