Does A Registered Nurse Make More Than A Physical Therapist

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Physical therapists work with patients who take been injured and disabled, while nurses work in a diverseness of fields. Although physical therapists must earn a doctoral degree to practice, nurses can piece of work later on attending school for a much shorter fourth dimension, often with an associate degree or even a i-yr postsecondary certificate. As such, physical therapists tend to make more money than nurses -- but at that place are some exceptions.

Looking at Physical Therapists

Physical therapists ordinarily have vii years of postsecondary education to prepare them for their career and may also consummate a residency of upwards to iii additional years before practicing. According to the U.South. Bureau of Labor Statistics, concrete therapists earned an average of $81,110 per yr in 2012. Those employed in dr.'south offices and general hospitals earned close to the national average, while those working in dwelling health care services reported a higher boilerplate salary of $90,440.

Examining LVNs and LPNs

Licensed vocational nurses, sometimes called licensed practical nurses, usually work under a postsecondary certificate that takes between vi months and one twelvemonth to terminate. The BLS reports they are paid less than nurses who have more instruction, and -- at an average annual salary of $42,400 -- are paid far less than physical therapists. Many piece of work in nursing homes, where they averaged $43,570 per yr equally of 2012. Those employed by general hospitals averaged $41,330, and those working in physician'south offices earned an average of $38,980 per year.

Working as an RN

A task every bit a registered nurse typically requires a candidate to consummate an associate or bachelor'southward caste in nursing. Often, higher-paying jobs that involve supervisory duties are express to RNs who hold a bachelor'due south degree. Either way, RNs tend to earn far more than LPNs and LVNs, although they normally earn less than concrete therapists. Every bit of 2012, the BLS reports that RNs earned an average of $67,930 per year.

Payoff of Advanced Practice Nursing

Advanced do nurses oftentimes have nearly every bit much training as physical therapists, having obtained a master'south caste or doctoral degree. As such, advanced exercise nurses typically earn salaries that compete with -- or even exceed -- the salaries of concrete therapists. Nurse practitioners, for example, reported an boilerplate salary of $91,450 per year to the BLS in 2012. Nurse-midwives earned an average salary of $91,070 the same year, while nurse anesthetists reported a high average salary of $154,390 per year.