Career Atlas USA

Career Paths From Registered Nurses

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

  1. Nurse MidwivesAdvancement95.9% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Nurse Midwives share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Nurse Midwives is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 4). Median salary is about 37% higher.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $134,040
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    5
  2. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesLateral Move97% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (3 vs 4). Median salary is about 34% lower.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $64,400
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    3
  3. Medical DosimetristsLateral Move96.5% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Medical Dosimetrists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Medical Dosimetrists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 51% higher.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $147,470
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    4
  4. Exercise PhysiologistsLateral Move95.1% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Exercise Physiologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Exercise Physiologists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 39% lower.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $59,460
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    4
  5. Ophthalmologists, Except PediatricAdvancement96% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 4). Median salary is about 208% higher.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $300,080
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    5
  6. OptometristsAdvancement95% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Optometrists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Optometrists is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 4). Median salary is about 40% higher.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $136,570
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    5
  7. Athletic TrainersLateral Move96.4% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Athletic Trainers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Athletic Trainers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 4). Median salary is about 36% lower.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $62,520
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    5
  8. RadiologistsAdvancement95.4% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Radiologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Radiologists is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 4). Median salary is about 331% higher.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $420,860
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    5
  9. Medical AssistantsCareer Change95.3% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Medical Assistants share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Medical Assistants is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (3 vs 4). Median salary is about 53% lower.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $45,690
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    3
  10. Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsCareer Change96.4% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Detectives and Criminal Investigators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Detectives and Criminal Investigators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (3 vs 4). Median salary is about 4% lower.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $93,790
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    3
  11. Fire Inspectors and InvestigatorsCareer Change95.9% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Fire Inspectors and Investigators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Fire Inspectors and Investigators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (3 vs 4). Median salary is about 22% lower.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $75,920
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    3
  12. Nurse PractitionersAdvancement0% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners share a similar Transferable Skills profile (0% match). Nurse Practitioners is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (5 vs 4). Median salary is about 36% higher.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $132,300
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    5
  13. Flight AttendantsCareer Change95.7% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Flight Attendants share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Flight Attendants is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 4). Median salary is about 35% lower.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $63,580
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    2
  14. Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersCareer Change95% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 4). Median salary is about 61% lower.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $38,150
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    2
  15. Psychiatric AidesCareer Change95.3% skill match

    Registered Nurses and Psychiatric Aides share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Psychiatric Aides is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 4). Median salary is about 54% lower.

    Current median salary
    $97,550
    Target median salary
    $44,910
    Current Job Zone
    4
    Target Job Zone
    2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.