Registered Nurse PACU Salary in the United States

How much does a Registered Nurse PACU make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Registered Nurse PACU in the United States is $247,972 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $119.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $320,368
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $232,821 to $285,867
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $219,027
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View as table View as graph 25% $232,821 10% $219,027 90% $320,368 75% $285,867 $247,972 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Registered Nurse PACU Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $285,867 $23,822 $5,497 $137
Average $247,972 $20,664 $4,769 $119
25th Percentile $232,821 $19,402 $4,477 $112
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Key Factors That Influence Registered Nurse PACU Salaries

A Registered Nurse PACU'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 Registered Nurse PACU Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Registered Nurse PACU'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): $240,726
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $243,159
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $261,904
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $263,576
  • Expert (over 8 years): $264,691
Levels Salary
Entry Level Registered Nurse PACU$240,726
Intermediate Level Registered Nurse PACU$243,159
Senior Level Registered Nurse PACU$261,904
Specialist Level Registered Nurse PACU$263,576
Expert Level Registered Nurse PACU$264,691
$240,726 0 yr
$243,159 < 2 yrs
$261,904 2-4 yrs
$263,576 5-8 yrs
$264,691 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Registered Nurse PACU Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Registered Nurse PACUs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $274,555.
  • California: $273,513.
  • Massachusetts: $269,868.

Top Paying Cities for Registered Nurse PACUs

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: $312,767
  • San Francisco: $309,692
  • Oakland: $302,823

What Skills Can Increase a Registered Nurse PACU's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 4.43% 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.
  • Life Support (Mentioned in 3.32% Job Postings): Life support refers to the treatments and techniques performed in an emergency in order to support life after the failure of one or more vital organs. Healthcare providers and emergency medical technicians are generally certified to perform basic and advanced life support procedures; however, basic life support is sometimes provided at the scene of an emergency by family members or bystanders before emergency services arrive. In the case of cardiac injuries, cardiopulmonary resuscitation is initiated by bystanders or family members 25% of the time. Basic life support techniques, such as performing CPR on a victim of cardiac arrest, can double or even triple that patient's chance of survival. Other types of basic life support include relief from choking (which can be done by using the Heimlich maneuver), staunching of bleeding by direct compression and elevation above the heart (and if necessary, pressure on arterial pressure points and the use of a manufactured or improvised tourniquet), first aid, and the use of an automated external defibrillator.
  • Nursing Practice (Mentioned in 1.63% Job Postings): Nursing practice may be work experience that is direct and/or indirect patient care in clinical practice, nursing administration, education, research, or consultation in the specialty represented by the credential.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 4.43%
Life Support 3.32%
Nursing Practice 1.63%
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 Registered Nurse PACU's salary.
  • Professional Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Physiology: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Professional Communication
$275,249
11%
Physiology
$272,769
10%
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
$262,850
6%
Collaboration
$257,891
4%
Patient Safety
$257,891
4%
Listening
$257,891
4%
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How Education impacts a Registered Nurse PACU's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Registered Nurse PACUs enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA 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 Registered Nurse PACU with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $216,257 and $225,176).

Registered Nurse PACU Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Registered Nurse PACU
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 7.4%
Associates 2.4%
Bachelors 15.1%
Masters 68.7%
Doctorate 5.7%
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Registered Nurse PACU Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Registered Nurse PACU'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Registered Nurse PACU

Salaries for a Registered Nurse PACU can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $218,161 in 2023 to around $211,976 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Registered Nurse PACU salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Registered Nurse PACU Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$218,161
2024
$216,319
2025
$211,976
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $218,161
2024 $216,319
2025 $211,976
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Registered Nurse PACU

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Registered Nurse PACU

Here are companies hiring for Registered Nurse PACU and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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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