Database Administrators vs Registered Nurses: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Database Administrators professionals earn $42,380 more per year than Registered Nurses professionals — that's 45.3% higher. At the 90th percentile, Database Administrators earns $209,990 compared to $135,320 for Registered Nurses.
Salary Range Comparison
Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Registered Nurses$66,030 – $135,320
$66,030$209,990
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Database Administrators | Registered Nurses | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $81,630 | $66,030 | +$15,600 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,900 | $78,610 | +$29,290 |
| Median (50th) | $135,980 | $93,600 | +$42,380 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,480 | $107,960 | +$61,520 |
| 90th Percentile | $209,990 | $135,320 | +$74,670 |
| Mean (Average) | $142,620 | $98,430 | +$44,190 |
Employment Numbers
Database Administrators
64,770
employed nationwide
Registered Nurses
3,282,010
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Database Administrators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $188,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $170,700 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $162,310 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $155,880 |
Best Cities for Registered Nurses
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $208,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $188,020 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $169,210 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $133,440 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $133,090 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Database Administrators or Registered Nurses?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $42,380 (45.3% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Database Administrators?
Database Administrators salaries range from $81,630 (10th percentile) to $209,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $135,980.
What is the salary range for Registered Nurses?
Registered Nurses salaries range from $66,030 (10th percentile) to $135,320 (90th percentile), with a median of $93,600.
How many Database Administrators and Registered Nurses jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators positions and 3,282,010 Registered Nurses positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Registered Nurses to Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 while Registered Nurses earns $93,600. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS