Jobs Similar to Registered Nurses
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to registered nurses, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Critical Care Nurses, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses and Acute Care Nurses.
Registered Nurses: $97,550 median pay · 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. Registered Nurses) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Critical Care NursesSame group | 85% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 85% | $64,400−34% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Acute Care NursesSame group | 84% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Nurse MidwivesSame group | 84% | $134,040+37% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Nurse PractitionersSame group | 82% | $132,300+36% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Emergency Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 82% | $335,550+244% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Physician AssistantsSame group | 82% | $135,880+39% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Midwives | 81% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Athletic Trainers | 81% | $62,520−36% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | HospitalistsSame group | 81% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 81% | $68,380−30% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Obstetricians and GynecologistsSame group | 80% | $292,910+200% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 80% | $72,300−26% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Physical TherapistsSame group | 80% | $102,760+5% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Exercise PhysiologistsSame group | 80% | $59,460−39% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Psychiatric Technicians | 80% | $45,130−54% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Sports Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 80% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 80% | $256,560+163% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Family Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 80% | $244,180+150% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PhysiciansSame group | 80% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
- 1Critical Care Nurses
85% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
85% similar · $64,400 (−34%) · Training or associate
- 3Acute Care Nurses
84% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Nurse Midwives
84% similar · $134,040 (+37%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Nurse Practitioners
82% similar · $132,300 (+36%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Emergency Medicine Physicians
82% similar · $335,550 (+244%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Physician Assistants
82% similar · $135,880 (+39%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Midwives
81% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 9Athletic Trainers
81% similar · $62,520 (−36%) · Graduate degree
- 10Hospitalists
81% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 11Physical Therapist Assistants
81% similar · $68,380 (−30%) · Training or associate
- 12Obstetricians and Gynecologists
80% similar · $292,910 (+200%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Occupational Therapy Assistants
80% similar · $72,300 (−26%) · Training or associate
- 14Physical Therapists
80% similar · $102,760 (+5%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Exercise Physiologists
80% similar · $59,460 (−39%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Psychiatric Technicians
80% similar · $45,130 (−54%) · Training or associate
- 17Sports Medicine Physicians
80% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 18General Internal Medicine Physicians
80% similar · $256,560 (+163%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Family Medicine Physicians
80% similar · $244,180 (+150%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 20Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
80% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · 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 registered nurses also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where registered nurses is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like registered nurses
What jobs are most similar to registered nurses?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Critical Care Nurses (85% similar), Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (85% similar), Acute Care Nurses (84% similar), Nurse Midwives (84% similar) and Nurse Practitioners (82% similar).
Which jobs like registered nurses pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Emergency Medicine Physicians ($335,550, +244%; usually a graduate degree), Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($292,910, +200%; usually a graduate degree) and General Internal Medicine Physicians ($256,560, +163%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with registered nurses ($97,550).
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.