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Teacher vs Registered Nurse Salary

National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data

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Teachers earn a national median of $63,680/year vs Registered Nurses at $93,600/year. Registered Nurses earn 47% more nationally. The gap is $29,920 per year — or $2,493 per month.

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Teacher
$63,680
national median/year
$5,307/mo • $31/hr
VS
Registered Nurse
$93,600
national median/year
$7,800/mo • $45/hr

Annual salary gap

$29,920

Registered Nurses earn 47% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $339,152.

Best states for Registered Nurses

vs Teachers

Hawaii+$48,620
California+$47,310
Oregon+$41,460
Washington+$39,080
Alaska+$37,900

Best states for Teachers

vs Registered Nurses

Wyoming+$-12,220
West Virginia+$-14,130
Pennsylvania+$-14,680
Ohio+$-15,570
Kentucky+$-16,170

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Frequently Asked Questions

Registered Nurses earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Teachers is $63,680 versus $93,600 for Registered Nurses — a difference of $29,920 per year or $2,493 per month.

The national median salary gap between Teachers and Registered Nurses is $29,920 per year. Registered Nurses earn 47% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $339,152.

Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Teachers the highest median salary at $89,240 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. Elementary and Middle School Teachers 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, Teachers earn approximately $31 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.

Last updated: June 2026

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.