Registered Nurse vs Administrative Assistant Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Registered Nurse
$94,098/yr median(+$47,086 · 100.2% more)
Higher pay
Registered Nurse
Median$94,098
Mean$96,306
10th %ile$72,082
25th %ile$81,810
75th %ile$107,731
90th %ile$123,341
Employed3.4M+
Administrative Assistant
Median$47,012
Mean$48,292
10th %ile$33,791
25th %ile$39,585
75th %ile$55,238
90th %ile$64,285
Employed1.7M+
Salary Distribution Comparison
Registered Nurse
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $72,082 |
| 25th percentile | $81,810 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $94,098 |
| 75th percentile | $107,731 |
| 90th percentile | $123,341 |
Administrative Assistant
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,791 |
| 25th percentile | $39,585 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $47,012 |
| 75th percentile | $55,238 |
| 90th percentile | $64,285 |
Top Paying States
Registered Nurse
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $140,270 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $136,320 |
| 3 | Oregon | $129,010 |
| 4 | Washington | $124,200 |
| 5 | Alaska | $109,480 |
Administrative Assistant
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $59,910 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $57,940 |
| 3 | Washington | $57,330 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $57,210 |
| 5 | California | $55,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Registered Nurse or Administrative Assistant?
- Registered Nurse pays more with a median salary of $94,098/year, which is 100.2% more than Administrative Assistant at $47,012/year.
- What is the salary difference between Registered Nurse and Administrative Assistant?
- The median salary difference is $47,086/year (100.2%).
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