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PACU Nurse Salary 2026: Post-Anesthesia RN Pay by State & Setting
PACU Nurse Salary 2026: Post-Anesthesia RN Pay by State & Setting
The average PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit) nurse salary in 2026 is $82,000/year ($39.42/hour) nationally. PACU nursing — caring for patients recovering from anesthesia — is one of the most schedule-friendly critical-care specialties, with many positions in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) offering day-shift-only hours and no weekend or holiday requirements.
PACU Nurse Salary by State (2026)
| State | Avg Annual Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | $108,000 | Union contracts + night differentials at major health systems |
| New York | $98,000 | NYU Langone, Weill Cornell, NYC Health + Hospitals |
| Massachusetts | $91,000 | Mass General, Brigham, Partners Healthcare network |
| Washington | $90,000 | UW Medical Center, Virginia Mason, Swedish |
| Maryland / DC | $85,000 | NIH, Johns Hopkins, Suburban Hospital |
| Connecticut | $88,000 | Yale New Haven, Hartford HealthCare |
| Texas | $79,000 | HCA Texas, Baylor Scott & White — no state income tax |
| Florida | $77,000 | AdventHealth, HCA Florida, BayCare — no state income tax |
| Ohio | $76,000 | Cleveland Clinic, OhioHealth, Mount Carmel |
| Arizona | $80,000 | Banner Health, Dignity Health, HonorHealth |
PACU Nurse Salary by Setting (2026)
| Setting | Annual Salary Range | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital PACU (main OR recovery) | $85,000–$100,000 | Rotating shifts, weekends, on-call; higher acuity including trauma/cardiac cases |
| Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) | $78,000–$90,000 | Day shift only, no weekends, no holidays — most sought-after PACU schedule |
| Endoscopy Suite Recovery | $74,000–$85,000 | Day shift; lighter acuity (sedation vs general anesthesia) |
| Cardiac Catheterization Recovery | $82,000–$95,000 | Specialized; higher pay for cardio acuity |
| Pediatric PACU | $84,000–$98,000 | Children's hospitals; specialized skill premium |
CPAN and CAPA Certification: The Salary Premium
The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) offers two certifications that directly affect PACU pay:
- CPAN (Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse): Phase I recovery (immediate post-op). Requires 1,800 hours of perianesthesia experience. Exam: $295 (ASPAN member) / $395 (non-member).
- CAPA (Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse): Phase II and III recovery in ambulatory settings. Same experience requirement. Ideal for ASC nurses.
Either certification typically adds 3–7% to base salary — roughly $2,500–$5,700/year on the national average. Many employers pay a $1,000–$3,000 certification bonus and cover the exam fee. Recertification is every 3 years (75 contact hours or re-exam).
PACU as a CRNA Pipeline
PACU nursing is one of the two experience pathways accepted by most CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) programs. ICU experience is more common, but Phase I PACU (direct-from-OR, intubated patients) is increasingly accepted. Nurses planning for CRNA school often target hospital PACU positions specifically to build qualifying hours while maintaining a more predictable schedule than intensive care units. CRNA salaries start at $160,000–$200,000.
Travel PACU Nursing
PACU travelers are in consistent demand — facilities need experienced perianesthesia nurses who can handle high-acuity recovery without extensive orientation. 2026 travel PACU rates: standard hospital PACU $1,800–$2,400/week; high-acuity or CVICU PACU $2,200–$2,800/week; ASC traveler contracts $1,600–$2,100/week.
The ASC Advantage
The most discussed benefit of PACU nursing is the ambulatory surgery center schedule: day shift, Monday–Friday, no holidays, no on-call. ASC compensation runs $5,000–$10,000/year lower than hospital PACU, but many nurses calculate the trade-off in lifestyle terms rather than pure salary.
Related: OR Nurse Salary 2026, ICU Nurse Salary 2026, Travel Nurse Salary 2026.
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