Nurse vs Physician Career Comparison – The Simple Way to Choose Based on Your Priorities

Choosing between a nursing career and becoming a physician often hinges on how much time and money you are prepared to invest, how quickly you want to start practicing, and the type of responsibility you desire.

Registered nurses (RNs) can enter the workforce after a two‑year associate degree (ADN) or a four‑year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) like nurse practitioners (NPs) typically invest 6–10 years in education and experience, according to the Nursingworld.

Physicians, by contrast, must complete four years of undergraduate studies, four years of medical school, and three to seven years of residency, accumulating 12,000–16,000 hours of patient‑care training.

Nurses have lower training costs; BSN or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs run roughly US$20 000–100 000, while medical school costs US$200 000–300 000.

In return for the lengthy and costly training, physicians earn the highest salaries (median ≥ US$239 200 in 2024) and have more authority in diagnosis and treatment; APRNs earn a median of US$129 210, while RNs earn about US$93 600, as noted by the BLS.

If your priority is to enter health care quickly with a manageable financial burden and a holistic, patient‑centered role, nursing offers a rewarding path.

If your priority is greater autonomy in medical decision‑making, specialization, and higher earnings, and you can invest a decade or more of rigorous training, then the physician path may be more suitable.

Roles and Scope of Practice

Nurses (RNs and APRNs)

Nurses provide continuous care and education to patients and often spend more time with them than physicians. Registered nurses collect patient histories, perform assessments, administer medications, and collaborate with doctors to implement care plans.

Advanced practice registered nurses, including nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives, have expanded responsibilities; they examine patients, order diagnostic tests, interpret results, prescribe medications, and may independently diagnose and manage health problems.

APRNs practice autonomously or in collaboration with physicians, depending on state laws; they can specialize in adult‑geriatric, pediatric, psychiatric, or women’s health.

Physicians

Physicians lead the healthcare team by diagnosing diseases, developing treatment plans, performing procedures, and prescribing medications.

After medical school and residency, they are licensed to practice independently and can pursue subspecialties that require additional fellowship training.

Physicians accumulate extensive patient‑care hours (12 000–16 000) during clinical rotations and residency, giving them broad and in‑depth exposure to complex conditions.

This rigorous training equips physicians to handle complications, perform surgery, and supervise the work of nurses and APRNs according to the AMA.

Education and Training Pathways

Key points:

• Time to practice. Aspiring LPNs can be licensed in about a year, RNs in 2–4 years, and APRNs in 6–10 years. Physicians require 11–15 years (4‑year bachelor’s degree, 4‑year medical school, and 3–7‑year residency) before independent practice.
• Residency and patient‑care hours. APRNs have no residency requirement; they complete roughly 500–750 hours of clinical training. Physicians complete residency and accumulate 12 000–16 000 hours, giving them deeper exposure to varied specialties.
• Standardization. Nurse practitioner training varies widely; some programs are partly or fully online. Physician training is standardized, accredited, and involves progressive responsibility during residency.

Cost of Education

Costs vary by program and institution. According to an analysis by EduMed, nursing degrees (BSN or MSN) typically cost between US$20 000 and US$100 000 while a medical degree averages US$200 000–300 000 in tuition alone.

This does not account for living expenses or the opportunity cost of being out of the workforce during a long medical training.

APRNs must also pay for graduate education and certification, but their total educational cost generally remains below that of physicians.

Workforce Numbers, Salaries, and Job Outlook

Registered Nurses and APRNs

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were about 3.39 million RN jobs in 2024, with a median annual salary of US$93 600.

Employment of RNs is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, adding roughly 166 100 new positions. RNs require a bachelor’s degree for entry and frequently work in hospitals, ambulatory care, and nursing homes.

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN: nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists) numbered 382 700 jobs in 2024 and earned a median pay of US$132 050.

Individually, nurse practitioners earned US$129 210, nurse midwives US$128 790, and nurse anesthetists US$223 210.

Nurse practitioners (SOC 29‑1171) numbered 320 400 jobs in 2024, projected to grow 40% to 448 800 by 2034, adding 128 400 jobs, one of the fastest growth rates among all occupations.

APRNs must earn at least a master’s degree and hold certification, but enjoy strong demand due to their ability to provide primary and specialized care.

Physicians and Surgeons

Physicians and surgeons are fewer in number. The BLS lists 839 000 physician and surgeon jobs in 2024 with a median wage of ≥ US$239 200. Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034, adding 24 300 jobs.

The physician workforce is aging; a 2025 brief from the UNC Kenan Institute notes that 20% of active physicians are over age 65, and the U.S. is facing a projected shortfall of 187 130 physicians by 2037.

Women now make up about 38.9% of physicians, while nursing remains predominantly female (about 87.7% of nurses).

According to SalaryDr, neurosurgeons working in New York represent some of the highest compensation levels in medicine.

Data updated in February 2026 shows an average annual neurosurgeon salary of about 1,187,500 USD, or roughly 98,958 USD monthly, based on an average 69-hour workweek, which translates to around 456 USD per hour.

Verified compensation submissions show total earnings typically ranging from about 700,000 USD to over 2,050,000 USD, while top performers can reach approximately 5,850,000 USD annually.

Entry-level roles often start near 645,000 USD, but physicians with more than ten years of experience report typical compensation around 2,646,875 USD, representing more than a threefold income increase over time.

Most neurosurgeons in New York work in academic medical centers, where base salary represents roughly 79 percent of total compensation and the remainder comes from bonuses, incentives, and profit sharing.

Comparative Salary and Job Growth

Work Hours, Work‑Life Balance, and Burnout

Physicians

The American Medical Association’s 2024 survey found that physicians worked an average of 57.8 hours per week, consisting of 27.2 hours of direct patient care, 13 hours of indirect patient care (documentation, result interpretation), and 7.3 hours of administrative tasks.

More than 22% of physicians spend over eight hours per week on electronic health record (EHR) tasks outside scheduled hours.

Burnout remains a major issue: 43.2% of physicians reported burnout in 2024 (down from 48.2% in 2023). Hospitalists worked the longest hours (62.8 hours/week) while family medicine physicians worked 53.8 hours/week.

Stress is driven by long hours, administrative burden, and complexity of care.

Nurses

Nurses generally have shorter scheduled hours but often face shift work and mandatory overtime. The 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey reported that 57.4% of registered nurses worked 32–40 hours per week, and 17.4% worked 41–50 hours.

Only 3.1% reported working ≥61 hours, indicating that extreme hours are less common among RNs than physicians. Among licensed practical/vocational nurses, 55.3% worked 32–40 hours, but the proportion working more than 40 hours increased from 22.3% in 2015 to 31.2% in 2024.

Shifts are typically 8‑ to 12‑hour rotations, and many nurses work nights, weekends, or holidays to provide round‑the‑clock care.

Burnout and mental health issues are widespread in nursing. Nurse.com’s 2024 Salary & Work‑Life Report found that 23% of nurses were considering leaving the profession, and nearly half of respondents said their work negatively impacted their mental health.

Top factors contributing to burnout included dissatisfaction with salary policies (63%), lack of responsive leadership (60%), unequal work‑life balance (54%), and unmanageable workloads (54%).

Acute‑care nurses reported the highest mental‑health strain, with 23% saying their work negatively affected their mental health, while 15% of ambulatory care nurses reported similar impacts.

Among licensed practical nurses, high rates of mandated overtime (29%) compounded workload pressure. Despite these challenges, nurses generally report a strong commitment to patient care and appreciate the relationships they build with patients.

Job Responsibilities and Work Environment

Nursing Duties

• Patient‑centered care: Nurses spend substantial time with patients, monitoring vital signs, administering medications, providing emotional support, and educating patients about their conditions.
• Holistic approach: RNs and APRNs often consider lifestyle, cultural, and psychosocial factors when developing care plans. They advocate for patients and coordinate with interdisciplinary teams.
• Shift flexibility: Many RNs work in shifts, allowing for varied schedules and the possibility of part‑time work or four‑day workweeks. However, shift work can disrupt sleep patterns and social life.
• Advancement opportunities: RNs can pursue advanced degrees to become nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, or assume leadership roles.

Physician Duties

• Diagnosis and treatment: Physicians assess symptoms, order and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose diseases, and create treatment plans.
• Procedural authority: They perform surgeries, invasive procedures, and complex interventions that are beyond the scope of nurses and NPs.
• Leadership: Physicians lead healthcare teams, supervise nurses and allied health professionals, and bear ultimate responsibility for patient outcomes.
• Longer hours and on‑call: Physicians often have unpredictable schedules, especially in hospital‑based specialties. Many must take overnight calls or be available for emergencies.

Job Satisfaction and Career Progression

Both professions offer rewarding patient interactions but differ in autonomy and progression:

• Autonomy: APRNs have more autonomy than RNs but still face scope‑of‑practice restrictions in some states. Physicians have full autonomy in diagnosis, prescribing, and procedural decisions.
• Career mobility: Nurses can advance by obtaining higher degrees, certifications, and specialties. For example, nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives earn high salaries (US$223 210 and US$128 790, respectively) and have considerable independence. Physicians advance by completing residencies and fellowships, eventually becoming attending physicians or subspecialists; they may move into administration, research, or teaching.
• Financial return: Physicians recoup the high cost of education through higher lifetime earnings, but the debt burden and delayed income can be significant. Nurses have lower educational debt and start earning sooner, although the salary ceiling is lower.
• Burnout considerations: Burnout rates are high in both groups, about 45% of nurses and 49% of physicians reported feeling burned out in 2023, but sources of stress differ. Nurses often cite staffing shortages and lack of control over schedules, whereas physicians cite administrative burden and EHR tasks.

Pros and Cons Summary

Conclusion

Selecting between a nursing and a physician career requires a clear assessment of your priorities and resources.

If you value entering the workforce relatively quickly, desire a patient‑focused role with strong interpersonal connections, and want to avoid six‑figure educational debt, nursing offers a compelling path.

Registered nurses can start practicing within two to four years and have abundant employment opportunities, and nurse practitioners benefit from some of the fastest job growth and competitive pay.

However, be aware that nurses often face shift work, mandatory overtime, and high levels of burnout resulting from staffing shortages and emotional labor.

If your passion lies in mastering the full breadth of medical science, performing diagnostic and procedural work, and earning top salaries, and you are prepared for 11–15 years of intensive study and training with significant financial investment, then becoming a physician may be the better fit.

Physicians enjoy greater autonomy and authority in patient care but endure longer hours and substantial administrative burdens.