Financial Managers vs Registered Nurses: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $68,100 more per year than Registered Nurses professionals — that's 72.8% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
Registered Nurses$66,030 – $135,320
$66,030$135,320
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Managers | Registered Nurses | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $86,490 | $66,030 | +$20,460 |
| 25th Percentile | $118,360 | $78,610 | +$39,750 |
| Median (50th) | $161,700 | $93,600 | +$68,100 |
| 75th Percentile | $214,210 | $107,960 | +$106,250 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $135,320 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $180,470 | $98,430 | +$82,040 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Managers
818,620
employed nationwide
Registered Nurses
3,282,010
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
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: Financial Managers or Registered Nurses?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $68,100 (72.8% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
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 Financial Managers and Registered Nurses jobs are there?
There are approximately 818,620 Financial Managers positions and 3,282,010 Registered Nurses positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Registered Nurses to Financial Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Managers has a median salary of $161,700 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