What can I expect to earn as a Perioperative Nurse?
According to the 2007 AORN Salary Survey, the average staff nurse can expect to earn an annual salary of $60,400, and the average VP, director, or assistant director of nursing makes $93,800. Average base compensation for staff nurses ranges from $59,400 for those working in a small facility (eg, 3 ORs) to $62,300 for those working in a large facility (eg, 15 ORs). The prospect for employment in the nursing profession is strong in coming years. With an aging population and rising health care costs, nurses are expected to be in high demand into the 21st century. Much of this demand will come because the number of older people is projected to grow very rapidly, and older people are more likely than younger ones to need medical care. In addition to good pay and a growing demand for nurses, a career in nursing appeals to many people because it can provide a more flexible work schedule than many other occupations. Many of them prefer to make their own work schedules because they have small