National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Police Officers earn a national median of $72,280/year vs Registered Nurses at $93,600/year. Registered Nurses earn 29% more nationally. The gap is $21,320 per year — or $1,777 per month.
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Police Officer
$72,280
national median/year
$6,023/mo • $35/hr
VS
Registered Nurse
$93,600
national median/year
$7,800/mo • $45/hr
Annual salary gap
$21,320
Registered Nurses earn 29% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $241,668.
Best states for Registered Nurses
vs Police Officers
Oregon+$32,080
Washington+$30,080
Hawaii+$28,480
New Hampshire+$28,480
North Carolina+$27,680
Best states for Police Officers
vs Registered Nurses
Illinois+$-9,680
Wyoming+$-12,080
North Dakota+$-12,880
New Jersey+$-14,080
Ohio+$-14,480
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Registered Nurses earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Police Officers is $72,280 versus $93,600 for Registered Nurses — a difference of $21,320 per year or $1,777 per month.
The national median salary gap between Police Officers and Registered Nurses is $21,320 per year. Registered Nurses earn 29% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $241,668.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Police Officers the highest median salary at $108,320 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. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 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, Police Officers earn approximately $35 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.
