Registered Nurse vs Nurse Practitioner Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Nurse Practitioner
$133,771/yr median(+$39,673 · 42.2% 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
Nurse Practitioner
Median$133,771
Mean$135,412
10th %ile$103,133
25th %ile$118,080
75th %ile$149,370
90th %ile$170,358
Employed323K+
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 |
Nurse Practitioner
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $103,133 |
| 25th percentile | $118,080 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $133,771 |
| 75th percentile | $149,370 |
| 90th percentile | $170,358 |
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 |
Nurse Practitioner
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $168,520 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $159,310 |
| 3 | Washington | $156,100 |
| 4 | Oregon | $155,680 |
| 5 | Alaska | $155,170 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner?
- Nurse Practitioner pays more with a median salary of $133,771/year, which is 42.2% more than Registered Nurse at $94,098/year.
- What is the salary difference between Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner?
- The median salary difference is $39,673/year (42.2%).
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