Medical Assistants vs Registered Nurses: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Registered Nurses professionals earn $49,400 more per year than Medical Assistants professionals — that's 111.8% higher. At the 90th percentile, Medical Assistants earns $57,830 compared to $135,320 for Registered Nurses.
Salary Range Comparison
Medical Assistants$35,020 – $57,830
Registered Nurses$66,030 – $135,320
$35,020$135,320
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Medical Assistants | Registered Nurses | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $35,020 | $66,030 | $-31,010 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,610 | $78,610 | $-41,000 |
| Median (50th) | $44,200 | $93,600 | $-49,400 |
| 75th Percentile | $48,160 | $107,960 | $-59,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $57,830 | $135,320 | $-77,490 |
| Mean (Average) | $44,720 | $98,430 | $-53,710 |
Employment Numbers
Medical Assistants
793,460
employed nationwide
Registered Nurses
3,282,010
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Medical Assistants
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,570 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $59,910 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $58,850 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $52,040 |
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: Medical Assistants or Registered Nurses?
Registered Nurses professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $49,400 (111.8% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Medical Assistants?
Medical Assistants salaries range from $35,020 (10th percentile) to $57,830 (90th percentile), with a median of $44,200.
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 Medical Assistants and Registered Nurses jobs are there?
There are approximately 793,460 Medical Assistants positions and 3,282,010 Registered Nurses positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Registered Nurses to Medical Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Medical Assistants has a median salary of $44,200 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