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
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $72,082 |
| 25th percentile | $81,810 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $94,098 |
| 75th percentile | $107,731 |
| 90th percentile | $123,341 |
Aerospace Engineer
| Percentile | Annual 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
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $140,270 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $136,320 |
| 3 | Oregon | $129,010 |
| 4 | Washington | $124,200 |
| 5 | Alaska | $109,480 |
Aerospace Engineer
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $159,060 |
| 2 | Washington | $158,370 |
| 3 | California | $157,620 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $157,600 |
| 5 | Maryland | $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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