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Salary comparison

Orthotists and Prosthetists vs. Registered Nurses: Who Earns More?

Registered Nursess out-earn Orthotists and Prosthetistss by $16K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Orthotists and Prosthetistss land at $81,110 and Registered Nursess at $97,550. The education gap is real: orthotists and prosthetist programs typically require bachelor's degree, while registered nurse programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Orthotists and Prosthetistss is New Jersey ($118,950); for Registered Nursess it's California ($140,270).

Orthotists and Prosthetists
Registered Nurses
Median salary
$81,110
$97,550
Hourly rate
$38.99/hr
$46.9/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$46,350
$68,940
Senior level (90th %)
$119,810
$137,470
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
9,390
3,379,720
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
4.9%
Category
Healthcare
Healthcare
Top-paying state
New Jersey
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Orthotists and Prosthetists median pay.

State
Orthotists and Prosthetists
Registered Nurses
New Jersey
$118,950
$106,500
Washington
$105,240
$124,200
Maryland
$95,030
$99,790
Oregon
$93,790
$129,010
Rhode Island
$93,350
$100,640
California
$91,820
$140,270
Massachusetts
$89,860
$104,550
New York
$89,610
$109,440
Nevada
$80,390
$103,670
Connecticut
$77,030
$102,740
Colorado
$76,720
$100,260
Minnesota
$75,530
$101,510
New Hampshire
$70,400
$99,700
Arizona
$67,350
$99,500
District of Columbia
$44,080
$102,540

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Orthotists and Prosthetistss or Registered Nursess?

Registered Nursess earn more nationally. The median is $81,110 for Orthotists and Prosthetistss versus $97,550 for Registered Nursess, a difference of $16K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Orthotists and Prosthetists or Registered Nurses?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Orthotists and Prosthetists or Registered Nurses?

Orthotists and Prosthetists typically requires bachelor's degree. Registered Nurses requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Orthotists and Prosthetistss get paid the most?

New Jersey is the top-paying state for Orthotists and Prosthetistss at $118,950/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Orthotists and Prosthetists vs. Registered Nurses pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New Jersey, Orthotists and Prosthetistss earn $118,950 vs. $106,500 for Registered Nursess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Orthotists and Prosthetists salary breakdownView →Full Registered Nurses salary breakdownView →Best cities for Orthotists and Prosthetistss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Registered Nursess by take-home payExplore →How to become a orthotists and prosthetistsGuide →How to become a registered nursesGuide →