National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
Compare a different job:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Registered Nurses earn a national median of $93,600/year vs Veterinarians at $119,100/year. Veterinarians earn 27% more nationally. The gap is $25,500 per year — or $2,125 per month.
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Registered Nurse
$93,600
national median/year
$7,800/mo • $45/hr
VS
Veterinarian
$119,100
national median/year
$9,925/mo • $57/hr
Annual salary gap
$25,500
Veterinarians earn 27% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $289,050.
Best states for Veterinarians
vs Registered Nurses
Virginia+$34,100
Florida+$32,100
Texas+$31,700
Ohio+$31,300
Tennessee+$30,500
Best states for Registered Nurses
vs Veterinarians
California+$-14,800
Alaska+$-17,300
Nevada+$-17,700
Oregon+$-17,700
Mississippi+$-18,900
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Veterinarians earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Registered Nurses is $93,600 versus $119,100 for Veterinarians — a difference of $25,500 per year or $2,125 per month.
The national median salary gap between Registered Nurses and Veterinarians is $25,500 per year. Veterinarians earn 27% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $289,050.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Registered Nurses the highest median salary at $133,300 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Veterinarians the highest median salary at $148,100 per year.
Salary is one factor — Veterinarians earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Registered Nurses and Veterinarians 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, Registered Nurses earn approximately $45 per hour nationally and Veterinarians earn approximately $57 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.
