SalaryData

Registered Nurse vs Aerospace Engineer Salary (2026)

Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.

Higher paying occupation

Aerospace Engineer

$130,131/yr median(+$36,033 · 38.3% more)

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+
Higher pay

Aerospace Engineer

Median$130,131
Mean$134,024
10th %ile$87,598
25th %ile$103,253
75th %ile$159,750
90th %ile$187,400
Employed67K+

Salary Distribution Comparison

Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$72,082
25th percentile$81,810
Median (50th percentile)$94,098
75th percentile$107,731
90th percentile$123,341

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineer salary percentiles
PercentileAnnual Salary
10th percentile$87,598
25th percentile$103,253
Median (50th percentile)$130,131
75th percentile$159,750
90th percentile$187,400

Top Paying States

Registered Nurse

#StateMedian
1California$140,270
2Hawaii$136,320
3Oregon$129,010
4Washington$124,200
5Alaska$109,480

Aerospace Engineer

#StateMedian
1Minnesota$159,060
2Washington$158,370
3California$157,620
4District of Columbia$157,600
5Maryland$156,750

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more, Registered Nurse or Aerospace Engineer?
Aerospace Engineer pays more with a median salary of $130,131/year, which is 38.3% more than Registered Nurse at $94,098/year.
What is the salary difference between Registered Nurse and Aerospace Engineer?
The median salary difference is $36,033/year (38.3%).

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