Registered Nurse vs Aerospace Engineer Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Aerospace Engineer
$126,293/yr median(+$35,835 · 39.6% more)
Registered Nurse
Median$90,458
Mean$93,431
10th %ile$69,377
25th %ile$79,192
75th %ile$104,665
90th %ile$119,036
Employed3.3M+
Higher pay
Aerospace Engineer
Median$126,293
Mean$131,559
10th %ile$85,586
25th %ile$102,100
75th %ile$156,298
90th %ile$184,321
Employed68K+
Salary Distribution Comparison
Registered Nurse
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $69,377 |
| 25th percentile | $79,192 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $90,458 |
| 75th percentile | $104,665 |
| 90th percentile | $119,036 |
Aerospace Engineer
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $85,586 |
| 25th percentile | $102,100 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $126,293 |
| 75th percentile | $156,298 |
| 90th percentile | $184,321 |
Top Paying States
Registered Nurse
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $140,330 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $136,320 |
| 3 | Oregon | $123,990 |
| 4 | Washington | $112,180 |
| 5 | Alaska | $110,690 |
Aerospace Engineer
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $175,350 |
| 2 | Washington | $158,600 |
| 3 | Maryland | $158,220 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $152,210 |
| 5 | Colorado | $151,570 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Registered Nurse or Aerospace Engineer?
- Aerospace Engineer pays more with a median salary of $126,293/year, which is 39.6% more than Registered Nurse at $90,458/year.
- What is the salary difference between Registered Nurse and Aerospace Engineer?
- The median salary difference is $35,835/year (39.6%).
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