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Salary comparison

Surgeons, All Other vs. Registered Nurses: Who Earns More?

Surgeons, All Others out-earn Registered Nursess by $316K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Surgeons, All Others land at $414,010 and Registered Nursess at $97,550. The education gap is real: surgeons, all other programs typically require doctoral or professional degree, while registered nurse programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Surgeons, All Others is North Dakota ($604,890); for Registered Nursess it's California ($140,270).

Surgeons, All Other
Registered Nurses
Median salary
$414,010
$97,550
Hourly rate
$199.04/hr
$46.9/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$80,320
$68,940
Senior level (90th %)
$655,320
$137,470
Education required
Doctoral or professional degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
25,140
3,379,720
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
4.9%
Category
Healthcare
Healthcare
Top-paying state
North Dakota
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Surgeons, All Other median pay.

State
Surgeons, All Other
Registered Nurses
Minnesota
$568,150
$101,510
New Hampshire
$534,870
$99,700
Washington
$479,460
$124,200
Vermont
$438,530
$97,460
Illinois
$438,010
$95,990
New Jersey
$437,890
$106,500
Arizona
$415,980
$99,500
New York
$410,410
$109,440
Massachusetts
$387,150
$104,550
Maryland
$328,700
$99,790
Nevada
$326,520
$103,670
Texas
$222,820
$95,970
Rhode Island
$199,990
$100,640
Connecticut
$161,680
$102,740
California
$131,990
$140,270

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Surgeons, All Others or Registered Nursess?

Surgeons, All Others earn more nationally. The median is $414,010 for Surgeons, All Others versus $97,550 for Registered Nursess, a difference of $316K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Surgeons, All Other 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, Surgeons, All Other or Registered Nurses?

Surgeons, All Other typically requires doctoral or professional degree. Registered Nurses requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Surgeons, All Others get paid the most?

North Dakota is the top-paying state for Surgeons, All Others at $604,890/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Surgeons, All Other vs. Registered Nurses pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Minnesota, Surgeons, All Others earn $568,150 vs. $101,510 for Registered Nursess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Surgeons, All Other salary breakdownView →Full Registered Nurses salary breakdownView →Best cities for Surgeons, All Others by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Registered Nursess by take-home payExplore →How to become a surgeons, all otherGuide →How to become a registered nursesGuide →