SalaryByCity

Registered Nurses vs Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Registered Nurses

$93,600

Median annual salary

3,282,010 employed nationally

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

$64,580

Median annual salary

1,072,540 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Registered Nurses professionals earn $29,020 more per year than Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education professionals — that's 44.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Registered Nurses earns $135,320 compared to $104,670 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education.

Salary Range Comparison

Registered Nurses$66,030 – $135,320
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$47,330 – $104,670
$47,330$135,320

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileRegistered NursesSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationDifference
10th Percentile$66,030$47,330+$18,700
25th Percentile$78,610$57,800+$20,810
Median (50th)$93,600$64,580+$29,020
75th Percentile$107,960$83,010+$24,950
90th Percentile$135,320$104,670+$30,650
Mean (Average)$98,430$73,700+$24,730

Employment Numbers

Registered Nurses

3,282,010

employed nationwide

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

1,072,540

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Registered Nurses

CityMedian
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

Best Cities for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$103,640
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$103,640
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$99,840
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$99,740
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,530

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Registered Nurses or Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Registered Nurses professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $29,020 (44.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
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.
What is the salary range for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries range from $47,330 (10th percentile) to $104,670 (90th percentile), with a median of $64,580.
How many Registered Nurses and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are there?
There are approximately 3,282,010 Registered Nurses positions and 1,072,540 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education to Registered Nurses?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Registered Nurses has a median salary of $93,600 while Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earns $64,580. 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