Jobs Similar to Acute Care Nurses
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to acute care nurses, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Critical Care Nurses, Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners.
Acute Care Nurses: $97,550 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Acute Care Nurses) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Critical Care NursesSame group | 86% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Registered NursesSame group | 84% | $97,550 | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Nurse PractitionersSame group | 84% | $132,300 | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Nurse MidwivesSame group | 84% | $134,040 | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Emergency Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 84% | $335,550 | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PhysiciansSame group | 83% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 82% | $64,400 | Training or associate |
| 8 | Obstetricians and GynecologistsSame group | 82% | $292,910 | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Physical TherapistsSame group | 82% | $102,760 | Graduate degree |
| 10 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 82% | $256,560 | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Sports Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 82% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Physician AssistantsSame group | 81% | $135,880 | Graduate degree |
| 13 | HospitalistsSame group | 81% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Exercise PhysiologistsSame group | 81% | $59,460 | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Athletic Trainers | 81% | $62,520 | Graduate degree |
| 16 | UrologistsSame group | 81% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Midwives | 81% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Pediatricians, GeneralSame group | 81% | $210,040 | Graduate degree |
| 19 | DermatologistsSame group | 80% | $328,730 | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Family Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 80% | $244,180 | Graduate degree |
- 1Critical Care Nurses
86% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Registered Nurses
84% similar · $97,550 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Nurse Practitioners
84% similar · $132,300 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Nurse Midwives
84% similar · $134,040 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Emergency Medicine Physicians
84% similar · $335,550 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
83% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
82% similar · $64,400 · Training or associate
- 8Obstetricians and Gynecologists
82% similar · $292,910 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Physical Therapists
82% similar · $102,760 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10General Internal Medicine Physicians
82% similar · $256,560 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 11Sports Medicine Physicians
82% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 12Physician Assistants
81% similar · $135,880 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Hospitalists
81% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Exercise Physiologists
81% similar · $59,460 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Athletic Trainers
81% similar · $62,520 · Graduate degree
- 16Urologists
81% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 17Midwives
81% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 18Pediatricians, General
81% similar · $210,040 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Dermatologists
80% similar · $328,730 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 20Family Medicine Physicians
80% similar · $244,180 · Graduate degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for acute care nurses also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where acute care nurses is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (87)
- Midwives (85)
- Paramedics (85)
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (84)
- Psychiatric Technicians (82)
- Occupational Therapy Assistants (81)
- Nursing Assistants (80)
- Clinical Neuropsychologists (79)
- Athletic Trainers (78)
- Physical Therapist Assistants (78)
Questions about jobs like acute care nurses
What jobs are most similar to acute care nurses?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Critical Care Nurses (86% similar), Registered Nurses (84% similar), Nurse Practitioners (84% similar), Nurse Midwives (84% similar) and Emergency Medicine Physicians (84% similar).
Do jobs like acute care nurses pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than acute care nurses where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.