Jobs Similar to Critical Care Nurses
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to critical care nurses, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Acute Care Nurses, Emergency Medicine Physicians and Registered Nurses.
Critical 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. Critical Care Nurses) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acute Care NursesSame group | 86% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Emergency Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 85% | $335,550 | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Registered NursesSame group | 85% | $97,550 | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Nurse PractitionersSame group | 85% | $132,300 | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Nurse MidwivesSame group | 84% | $134,040 | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Physician AssistantsSame group | 84% | $135,880 | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Obstetricians and GynecologistsSame group | 83% | $292,910 | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 83% | $64,400 | Training or associate |
| 9 | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PhysiciansSame group | 82% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 10 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 82% | $256,560 | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Nurse AnesthetistsSame group | 81% | $236,590 | Graduate degree |
| 12 | HospitalistsSame group | 81% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Exercise PhysiologistsSame group | 81% | $59,460 | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | AnesthesiologistsSame group | 81% | $391,490 | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Physical TherapistsSame group | 81% | $102,760 | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Family Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 81% | $244,180 | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Sports Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 81% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | OrthoptistsSame group | 80% | $115,210Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Clinical Nurse SpecialistsSame group | 80% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Pediatricians, GeneralSame group | 80% | $210,040 | Graduate degree |
- 1Acute Care Nurses
86% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Emergency Medicine Physicians
85% similar · $335,550 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Registered Nurses
85% similar · $97,550 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Nurse Practitioners
85% similar · $132,300 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Nurse Midwives
84% similar · $134,040 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Physician Assistants
84% similar · $135,880 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Obstetricians and Gynecologists
83% similar · $292,910 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
83% similar · $64,400 · Training or associate
- 9Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
82% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10General Internal Medicine Physicians
82% similar · $256,560 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 11Nurse Anesthetists
81% similar · $236,590 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 12Hospitalists
81% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Exercise Physiologists
81% similar · $59,460 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Anesthesiologists
81% similar · $391,490 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Physical Therapists
81% similar · $102,760 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 16Family Medicine Physicians
81% similar · $244,180 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 17Sports Medicine Physicians
81% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 18Orthoptists
80% similar · $115,210 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Clinical Nurse Specialists
80% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 20Pediatricians, General
80% similar · $210,040 · 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 critical care nurses also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where critical care nurses is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (85)
- Paramedics (84)
- Midwives (83)
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (82)
- Athletic Trainers (77)
- Surgical Assistants (75)
- Physical Therapist Assistants (74)
- Nursing Assistants (73)
- Occupational Therapy Assistants (73)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (73)
Questions about jobs like critical care nurses
What jobs are most similar to critical care nurses?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Acute Care Nurses (86% similar), Emergency Medicine Physicians (85% similar), Registered Nurses (85% similar), Nurse Practitioners (85% similar) and Nurse Midwives (84% similar).
Do jobs like critical care nurses pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than critical 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.