More than any other variable, job titles are linked to difference in compensation for perioperative nurses, according to the results from the 2013 AORN Salary and Compensation Survey.
The difference in pay between nurses with different job titles can be explained by the time spent providing direct patient care versus time spent on management and administration tasks, according to the survey.
The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses published results from an online survey of 2,916 individuals in June 2013. The following figures are the average base compensation for seven perioperative nursing titles, broken down further by facility size. The average amount of time spent in direct patient care is also noted in percentage points.
Average base compensation by job title and facility size
1. Staff nurse (87.7 percent of time in direct patient care)
Small facility (10 ORs or fewer): $65,300
Large facility (more than 10 ORs): $68,700
2. Hospital/facility administrator (15.6 percent)
Small facility: $104,400
Large facility: too few samples
3. Director/vice president/assistant director of nursing (17 percent)
Small facility: $96,600
Large facility: $132,200
4. Nurse manager/supervisor/coordinator/team leader/business manager (34.7 percent)
Small facility: $78,600
Large facility: $88,200
5. Educator/staff development (18.6 percent)
Small facility: $79,300
Large facility: $80,400
6. Clinical nurse specialist with a master's degree or higher (34.4 percent)
Small facility: too few samples
Large facility: $87,400
7. RN first assistant (85.2 percent)
Small facility: $71,000
Large facility: $75,700