Registered Nurse vs Nurse Practitioner Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Nurse Practitioner
$129,125/yr median(+$38,667 · 42.7% 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
Nurse Practitioner
Median$129,125
Mean$130,028
10th %ile$95,496
25th %ile$112,582
75th %ile$143,140
90th %ile$165,207
Employed305K+
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 |
Nurse Practitioner
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $95,496 |
| 25th percentile | $112,582 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $129,125 |
| 75th percentile | $143,140 |
| 90th percentile | $165,207 |
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 |
Nurse Practitioner
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $166,610 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $149,620 |
| 3 | Alaska | $145,450 |
| 4 | New York | $145,390 |
| 5 | Oregon | $144,600 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner?
- Nurse Practitioner pays more with a median salary of $129,125/year, which is 42.7% more than Registered Nurse at $90,458/year.
- What is the salary difference between Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner?
- The median salary difference is $38,667/year (42.7%).
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