Circulator vs operating room nurse

The differences between circulators and operating room nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a circulator, becoming an operating room nurse takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an operating room nurse has an average salary of $68,255, which is higher than the $60,663 average annual salary of a circulator.

The top three skills for a circulator include patients, BLS and patient care. The most important skills for an operating room nurse are patients, BLS, and acls.

Circulator vs operating room nurse overview

	Circulator	Operating Room Nurse
Yearly salary	$60,663	$68,255
Hourly rate	$29.16	$32.81
Growth rate	19%	6%
Number of jobs	20,607	545,487
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age	37	44
Years of experience	6	2

Circulator vs operating room nurse salary

Circulators and operating room nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Circulator	Operating Room Nurse
Average salary	$60,663	$68,255
Salary range	Between $40,000 And $91,000	Between $42,000 And $108,000
Highest paying City	-	Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state	-	Hawaii
Best paying company	-	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	-	Professional

Differences between circulator and operating room nurse education

There are a few differences between a circulator and an operating room nurse in terms of educational background:

	Circulator	Operating Room Nurse
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	University of Wisconsin - Madison	Duke University

Circulator vs operating room nurse demographics

Here are the differences between circulators' and operating room nurses' demographics:

	Circulator	Operating Room Nurse
Average age	37	44
Gender ratio	Male, 27.9% Female, 72.1%	Male, 14.8% Female, 85.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	10%	9%

Differences between circulator and operating room nurse duties and responsibilities

Circulator example responsibilities.

Achieve departmental goals and objectives by instituting SGNA standards and processes for inpatient and outpatient care.
Transport patient to PACU and reports off to recovery nurse.
Implement, write, and enforce department policies in accordance with AORN standards.
Circulate all specialties to include ENT, cataracts, spine, total knees, orthopedics, plastics and general
Complete initial assessment of the patients including vital signs and gathering pertinent information.
Administer medications, position patients, prep patients, provide patient advocacy, and monitor sterility in the operating room.

Operating room nurse example responsibilities.

Post op surgery assist recovery nurse with obtaining vitals signs and attaching EKG leads and oxygen.
Achieve departmental goals and objectives by instituting SGNA standards and processes for inpatient and outpatient care.
Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
General surgery, ortho, GU, GI and ENT and dentals.
Complete BLS and ACLS certification.
Specialize in GYN, urology and orthopedics.

Circulator vs operating room nurse skills

Common circulator skills

Patients, 27%
BLS, 22%
Patient Care, 15%
Acls, 9%
Surgical Procedures, 4%
AORN, 3%

Common operating room nurse skills

Patients, 21%
BLS, 13%
Acls, 7%
Surgical Procedures, 4%
PACU, 3%
Pre-op, 3%

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Circulator vs Operating Room Nurse

Updated January 8, 2025

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