National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Accountants earn a national median of $79,880/year vs Registered Nurses at $93,600/year. Registered Nurses earn 17% more nationally. The gap is $13,720 per year — or $1,143 per month.
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Accountant
$79,880
national median/year
$6,657/mo • $38/hr
VS
Registered Nurse
$93,600
national median/year
$7,800/mo • $45/hr
Annual salary gap
$13,720
Registered Nurses earn 17% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $155,520.
Best states for Registered Nurses
vs Accountants
Hawaii+$36,480
California+$34,980
Oregon+$32,080
Alaska+$28,480
Nevada+$26,080
Best states for Accountants
vs Registered Nurses
Texas+$-4,080
Mississippi+$-4,880
Arkansas+$-5,680
Oklahoma+$-5,680
Virginia+$-5,680
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Registered Nurses earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Accountants is $79,880 versus $93,600 for Registered Nurses — a difference of $13,720 per year or $1,143 per month.
The national median salary gap between Accountants and Registered Nurses is $13,720 per year. Registered Nurses earn 17% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $155,520.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Accountants the highest median salary at $98,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Registered Nurses the highest median salary at $133,300 per year.
Salary is one factor — Registered Nurses earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Accountants and Auditors and Registered Nurses both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Accountants earn approximately $38 per hour nationally and Registered Nurses earn approximately $45 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
