Family Medicine Physicians vs. Registered Nurses: Who Earns More?
Family Medicine Physicians out-earn Registered Nurses by $147K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Family Medicine Physicians land at $244,180 and Registered Nurses at $97,550. The education gap is real: family medicine physician programs typically require doctoral or professional degree, while registered nurse programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Family Medicine Physicians is Rhode Island ($467,160); for Registered Nurses it's California ($140,270).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Family Medicine Physicians median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Family Medicine Physicians or Registered Nurses?
Family Medicine Physicians earn more nationally. The median is $244,180 for Family Medicine Physicians versus $97,550 for Registered Nurses, a difference of $147K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Family Medicine Physicians or Registered Nurses?
Registered Nurses has the better 10-year outlook at 4.9% projected growth, compared to 2.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Family Medicine Physicians or Registered Nurses?
Family Medicine Physicians typically requires doctoral or professional degree. Registered Nurses requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Family Medicine Physicians get paid the most?
Rhode Island is the top-paying state for Family Medicine Physicians at $467,160/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Family Medicine Physicians vs. Registered Nurses pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Rhode Island, Family Medicine Physicians earn $467,160 vs. $100,640 for Registered Nurses. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.