What to Pay an Operating Room Registered Nurse in Houston, TX (2026)
How to set your OR RN pay range in Houston
Three pay positions, modeled against current Houston market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
OR RN salary percentile distribution in Houston, TX
Where the Houston market actually sits for OR RN base pay.
Most Houston employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($112,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $98,000 and a max of $128,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Texas pay transparency compliance for OR RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a OR RN in Texas.
For a OR RN role in Houston, a compliant good-faith range looks like $98,000 to $128,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $98,000–$128,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top OR RN employers in Houston — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring OR RNs in the Houston metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Methodist | Academic medical center | $110K–$140K | Very common ($12K–$22K) |
| Memorial Hermann | Health system | $105K–$135K | Very common ($12K–$22K) |
| MD Anderson (oncology surgery) | Specialty academic | $115K–$148K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Texas Children's Hospital | Pediatric specialty | $108K–$138K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Surgical Specialty Hospital of Houston | Specialty hospital | $104K–$132K | Very common ($15K–$22K) |
OR RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Houston
How hard is it to fill a OR RN role in Houston.
Skill premiums OR RN candidates command in Houston, TX
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| CNOR | +8–12% on base | Standard |
| Cardiothoracic OR (Methodist) | +8–12% | Very high |
| Oncology surgery (MD Anderson) | +8–12% | Very high |
| Pediatric OR (Texas Children's) | +6–10% | High |
OR RN total compensation in Houston — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for OR RNs in Houston. "Prevalence" reflects share of Houston disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Houston Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $112,000 (median) | 100% |
| Call pay (standby + callback) | $5–$9/hr standby + 1.5× hourly | ~94% |
| Sign-on bonus | $12,000–$22,000 | ~80% |
| CNOR certification pay | +8–12% on base | ~72% |
| Overtime opportunity | $10K–$22K annualized | ~94% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$145K–$175K | — |
Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.
OR RN pay by setting in Houston — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the OR RN range splits by employer type in the Houston metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| General OR | $108,000 | $96K–$125K | Very high |
| Cardiothoracic OR (Methodist) | $120,000 | $108K–$138K | Very high |
| Oncology OR (MD Anderson) | $122,000 | $110K–$140K | Very high |
| Pediatric OR (Texas Children's) | $118,000 | $105K–$135K | Very high |
| Ambulatory surgery center | $102,000 | $92K–$118K | Tight |
OR RN salary in Houston vs. other Texas and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Houston | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land, TX | $112,000 | — | Tight |
| Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX | $108,000 | −3.6% | Tight |
| Austin–Round Rock, TX | $110,000 | −1.8% | Tight |
| San Antonio, TX | $102,000 | −8.9% | Tight |
| Texas statewide | $104,000 | −7.1% | — |
| U.S. national | $106,000 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Operating Room Registered Nurse in Houston, TX
Related OR RN pay benchmarks — Texas metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.