Human Resources Specialists 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 $20,690 more per year than Human Resources Specialists professionals — that's 28.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Human Resources Specialists earns $126,540 compared to $135,320 for Registered Nurses.
Salary Range Comparison
Human Resources Specialists$45,440 – $126,540
Registered Nurses$66,030 – $135,320
$45,440$135,320
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Human Resources Specialists | Registered Nurses | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $45,440 | $66,030 | $-20,590 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,870 | $78,610 | $-22,740 |
| Median (50th) | $72,910 | $93,600 | $-20,690 |
| 75th Percentile | $97,270 | $107,960 | $-10,690 |
| 90th Percentile | $126,540 | $135,320 | $-8,780 |
| Mean (Average) | $79,730 | $98,430 | $-18,700 |
Employment Numbers
Human Resources Specialists
917,460
employed nationwide
Registered Nurses
3,282,010
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Human Resources Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $114,080 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $100,600 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $97,340 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $88,050 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $83,930 |
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: Human Resources Specialists or Registered Nurses?
Registered Nurses professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $20,690 (28.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Human Resources Specialists?
Human Resources Specialists salaries range from $45,440 (10th percentile) to $126,540 (90th percentile), with a median of $72,910.
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 Human Resources Specialists and Registered Nurses jobs are there?
There are approximately 917,460 Human Resources Specialists positions and 3,282,010 Registered Nurses positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Registered Nurses to Human Resources Specialists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Human Resources Specialists has a median salary of $72,910 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