National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Paralegals earn a national median of $59,200/year vs Nurses at $89,010/year. Nurses earn 50% more nationally. The gap is $29,810 per year — or $2,484 per month.
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Paralegal
$59,200
national median/year
$4,933/mo • $28/hr
VS
Nurse
$89,010
national median/year
$7,418/mo • $43/hr
Annual salary gap
$29,810
Nurses earn 50% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $337,905.
Best states for Nurses
vs Paralegals
California+$55,270
Hawaii+$42,120
Alaska+$42,040
Oregon+$35,120
Washington+$34,120
Best states for Paralegals
vs Nurses
Virginia+$-14,120
Maryland+$-17,120
South Carolina+$-18,120
Tennessee+$-19,120
Florida+$-20,120
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Nurses earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Paralegals is $59,200 versus $89,010 for Nurses — a difference of $29,810 per year or $2,484 per month.
The national median salary gap between Paralegals and Nurses is $29,810 per year. Nurses earn 50% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $337,905.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Paralegals the highest median salary at $76,200 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Nurses the highest median salary at $131,470 per year.
Salary is one factor — Nurses earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Paralegals and Legal Assistants 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, Paralegals earn approximately $28 per hour nationally and Nurses earn approximately $43 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.
