Career comparison
Pediatric Surgeon vs. Registered Nurse
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Pediatric surgeons earn more at the median ($559,030 vs. $97,550), while registered nurses usually get to work faster (2–4 years of training). Pediatric surgeons perform surgery on infants, children and teens. Registered nurses assess patients, give treatments, coordinate care and educate families.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Pediatric Surgeon | Registered Nurse | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $559,030 ($268.76/hr) | $97,550 ($46.90/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $215,410 – $726,660 | $68,940 – $137,470 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.0% (slower than average) | +5.6% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 0 | 180,800 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 15+ years after high school | 2–4 years |
| Key credential | ABS pediatric surgery certification | NCLEX-RN license |
| Work setting | Pediatric surgeons work in children’s hospitals and academic medical centers.. | About half of RNs work in hospitals; others work in physician offices, home health, nursing homes, outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers, schools, government and the military. |
What each job does
Pediatric Surgeon
- Evaluate children for surgery
- Repair congenital defects
- Perform appendectomies and hernia repairs
- Operate on newborns
- Treat childhood tumors
Registered Nurse
- Assess patients’ physical and emotional condition and record observations
- Administer medications, IV fluids and treatments as ordered
- Monitor patients, interpret vital signs and lab values and recognize deterioration
- Develop and update nursing care plans
- Coordinate care with physicians, therapists, case managers and families
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, hands-on work, helping others, and high responsibility. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose pediatric surgeon if…
- I want to operate on children
- I stay calm in emergencies
- I can comfort worried families
Choose registered nurse if…
- I want a career where I make a real difference in people’s health
- I can stay calm and think clearly in emergencies
- I’m willing to complete two to four years of rigorous study
Still torn? Take the Pediatric Surgeon fit quiz and the Registered Nurse fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, pediatric surgeon or registered nurse?
Pediatric Surgeons earn more at the median: $559,030 versus $97,550 for registered nurses, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Registered Nurses typically train faster (2–4 years) than pediatric surgeons (15+ years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects registered nurses to grow +5.6% from 2025–35, compared with +2.0% for pediatric surgeons.